In about 10 minutes, the greatest sports spectacle in American sports will kick off from Lucas Oil Stadium as the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, which the Giants won 17-14, spoiling New England's quest for a perfect 19-0 record. Will it be more of the same? Well...the game is about to start, plus those commercials for the non-football watching people. Which ones will stand out? Which ones well...didn't. I'm going to start my engine.
DJBC Happy Hour/DJBC Sports Corner's Pick: Giants 28, Patriots 23
6:15PM- Husband-and-wife country singers Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert sing America, the Beautiful.
6:17PM- Kelly Clarkson sings the National Anthem.
6:19PM- Commercial for The Dictator movie...
6:25PM- FACT: the NFC won 14 consecutive coin tosses...until now....Patriots win the toss and will defer to the 2nd Half, Giants get the ball first
6:27PM- The Commercial Fyundai begins with Hyundai performing the Rocky theme song, a capella...NICE!
6:28PM- And now, the Super Bowl is about to begin, as NBC plays the NFL ID, and now the Super Bowl intro.
6:30PM- The Giants return the kickoff 23 years to their own 24-yard line.
6:36PM- The Giants are starting to go backwards after making some positive passing plays. 3rd and 13 from Patriots 37. Manning gets sacked by Mark Anderson (# 95, New England).
6:37PM- The Giants down the punt around the New England 5-yard line.
6:37PM- Commercial Break # 1, Commercial # 1: Bud Light..."We dream of turning platinum into platinum"- Bud Light Platinum
6:38PM- Next Commercial (Audi): People at a campfire...guy driving an SUV...people disappear in poof of smoke...Audi Commercial
6:39PM- NBC Super Bowl Bumper
6:40PM- Patriots start from their own 6-yard line. FLAG! Brady way overthrew the pass, which is intentional grounding, and the Giants score first, because Brady was in the end zone, which resulted in a safety. 2-0, Giants. 8:52 left in the First Quarter.
6:41PM- Commercial- Pepsi, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"....royal court, Sir Elton John..."Where there's Pepsi, There's Music"
6:42PM- Commercial- Hyundai Turbo---Man vs. Cheetah
6:42PM- Commercial- Promo for NBC's "Smash", which premieres tomorrow night.
6:43PM- Giants get the ball at their own 23-yard line. The First Super Bowl safety since Super Bowl XXV.
6:49PM- Victor Cruz fumbles the ball, but gets lucky, because the Patriots had 12 men on the field, and now it's First and Goal for the G-Men.
6:50PM- Victor Cruz salsa steps in the end zone after catching a 2-yard touchdown catch. 8-0 Giants, pending PAT.
6:51PM- Extra point by Lawrence Tynes is good. # 9 for the G-Men makes it 9-0 Giants with 3:24 remaining in the 1st.
6:51PM- Commercial- Another Bud Light commercial for the new Platinum Lager
6:52PM- Commercial- M&M commercial
6:53PM- Commercial- Shazam commercial featuring inventors...ok Best Buy commercial
6:53PM- Commercial- Celebrity Apprentice Promo
6:54PM- New England running back Danny Woodhead returns the kickoff to the Patriots 29 yard line.
6:55PM- Commercial- Coca Cola (with the Polar Bears)
6:55PM- Commercial- Chevy Silverado (to the tune of Barry Manilow's "Looks Like We Made It"...lol)...after the apocalypse
6:56PM- Halftime Show Promo
6:56PM- Rock Central Promo
6:57PM- New England back in action at their own 29-yard line with 3:18 remaining in the opening quarter.
6:59PM- The Patriots are moving down the field as the first quarter winds down, as they are inside the Giants 30-yard line, and will finish the quarter at the Giants 20-yard line after a 9-yard pass from Tom Brady to Wes Welker.
7PM Sharp- End of 1st Quarter- New York Giants 9, New England Patriots 0
7PM- Commercial- Bridgestone Tires (with Troy Aikman & Deion Sanders)
7:01PM- Commercial- GoDaddy commercial
7:01PM- Commercial- 2013 Lexus GS commercial
7:02PM- Commercial- Battleship (opens May 18)
7:03PM- Start of the 2nd Quarter, Giants up 9-0, New England tapping into the New York red zone, starting the period at the NYG 20.
7:05PM- 29-yard Field Goal by Stephen Gostkowski with 13:46 left in the 2nd Quarter makes it 9-3 Giants.
7:05PM- Commercial- It looks like I'm traveling through time...it's a Budweiser commercial...did not know that
7:06PM- Commercial- Another Doritos commercial with a dog.
7:07PM- Commercial- Camaro (happy Graduate getting a new Chevy Camaro, color yellow)
7:08PM- Gostkowski kicks this one into the end zone, where the ball is not returned.
7:08PM- Commercial- G.E. (factory workers talking about building things), and they include Budweiser in this
7:09PM- Commercial- John Carter (from Disney, coming to theatres March 19?)
7:09PM- Commercial- TaxAct (boy in a swimming pool)
7:10PM- Commercial- The Voice promo
7:10PM- Back to the game...Giants get the ball at their own 20 with 13:46 left in the half. Eli Manning, 9 straight completions to start the game (new Super Bowl record)
7:12PM- Injury Timeout...More Commercials...Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, coming out in theatres March 2nd.
7:13PM- "Get Up Off Of That Thang"!?!?!?!?!?! Dog up to no good at home alone (reminds me of all my friends who have dogs)- Volkswagen commercial
7:13PM- Star Wars Cantina- 2nd Volkswagen commercial
7:14PM- America's Got Talent promo
7:15PM- Hakeem Nicks makes a diving catch for 18 yards on 3rd and 6 to the Patriots 47-yard line...Eli's Comin', as Three Dog Night once sang.
7:!9PM- Giants punt into the end zone, 10 minutes even left in the first half
7:19PM- Commercial- David Beckham, scored by "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by the Animals promoting David Beckham bodywear from H&M.
7:20PM- Commercial- Coca Cola...again...with the Polar Bears...again...fighting over the one Coke bottle...again.
7:21PM- Back to the Game...Patriots get the ball at their own 20 yard line. Defenisve End Jason Pierre Paul (# 90, Giants) bats down another Tom Brady pass attempt
7:23PM- After the Patriots go three-and-out, Will Blackmon (# 36, Giants) fair catches a punt at the Giants 23-yard line.
7:25PM- Giants' Travis Beckum out for the game with a Torn ACL.
7:29PM- 4 Minutes Even left, Giants punt out of bounds to inside the New England 5-yard line
7:30PM- Commercial- Chevy Sonic (and its firsts...and "Tonight...")
7:31PM- Commercial- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in 3D (George Lucas really needs to stop)
7:31PM- Halftime Show Promo
7:32PM- A false start pushes New England back from their own 4 to their own 2...
7:34PM- Hello, Rob Gronkowski! 20-yard reception to the Patriots 35-yard line.
7:35PM- Two-Minute Warning...Two minutes Even Left in the Half
7:35PM- Commercial- All of the Marvel-ous Characters Join Up for a new movie...in theatres May 4
7:35PM- Commercial- Teleflora
7:36PM- Commercial- A Pug crashes a Greyhound race in this Sketchers commercial
7:36PM- Commercial- NFL Play 60
7:39PM- Aaron Hernandez makes a catch, and loses the ball after his elbow hits the ground, so no Booth Challenge...now a Holding penalty on Bryan Waters pushes the Patriots back 10 yards.
7:41PM- First timeout of the half by either team with 29 seconds left in the half taken by New England.
7:42PM- Commercial- A baby flying in mid-air to grab some Doritos'
7:42PM- Commercial- E*Trade Commercial- Dad and his baby boy
7:43PM- Commercial- Another Movie Promo...G.I. Joe: Retaliator.
7:45PM- Jason Pierre-Paul tackles down Danny Woodhead in the backfield on 2nd and 2 from the Giants 3-yard line. (New England takes another timeout)
7:47PM- Tom Brady connects to Danny Woodhead for a five-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds left in the half to tie the game at 9 even.
7:48PM- The extra point by Stephen Gostkowski gives New England a 10-9 lead with eight seconds left in the first half.
7:49PM- Patriots' 96-yard touchdown drive ties for the longest such drive in Super Bowl History*.
*- The Patriots went as far back as -2 yards to their own two.
7:49PM- The Giants return the kickoff to the 26-yard line with four seconds left.
7:50PM- End of First Half as Eli Manning takes a knee.
New England Patriots 10, New York Giants 9
Bridgestone Tires Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show coming up...
7:51PM- Commercial- NFL $ 1M giveaway to fans like you and me
7:51PM- Commercial (Columbus Market only)- Local NBC affiliate in Columbus promo for their morning news programming
7:51PM- Commercial (Columbus Market only)- Shawnee State University, then Columbus Dispatch website
7:53PM- Commercial- Wendy's Commercial (Bacon Portabella & Spicy Santa Fe)
7:53PM- Commercial (Columbus Market only)- NBC4 Teaser for News
7:53PM- NFL Halftime Report
7:58PM- Commercial- Another Camry commercial...one about stories
7:59PM- Commercial- Will Arnett and Hulu Plus (Hulu Plus)
7:59PM- Commercial- Bud Light Commercial- "Welcome to Halftime"
8PM Sharp- Commercial- Madonna and Jay Leno in an elevator...Promo for The Tonight Show
8PM Sharp- The Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show Begins!
8:01PM- The 12-minute show kicks off with the 1990 hit "Vogue", as Madonna is carried out by Trojan soldiers
8:03PM- Ryan Seacrest tweeted that the Stage is set up in only 5 minutes by over 500 people for a 12-minute set, and then torn down in 7 minutes. Wow.
8:11PM- The show closes with "Like a Prayer" with CeeLo Green joining Madonna on the stage. Nicki Minaj performed with Madonna in an earlier number in the Halftime Show.
8:13PM- And that's all folks for the Super Bowl XLVI Bridgestone Tires Halftime Show.
8:13PM- More commercials while they strike the stage...First up, The Voice judges kicking each others asses in the Voice promo (Betty White makes a cameo in it)
8:14PM- Back to the NFL...Bob Costas talking about how close the game could be
8:16PM- Dan Patrick, Rodney Harrison, and Tony Dungy back again discussing some moments froim the first half
8:17PM- More commercials...Next up...Clint Eastwood in a Chrysler commercial for, you guessed it...Detroit...and one about the economy. How do we come from behind? This country can't be knocked down with one punch. It's Halftime America, and out second half is about to begin.
8:19PM- Again...NFL $ 1 Million sweepstakes...abridged.
8:19PM- Highlights from the First Half to get us revved up for the Second Half
8:21PM- The Second Half kicks off as Julian Edelman (# 11, New England) returns the kickoff 21 yards to the Patriots 21-yard line.
8:22PM- Chad Ochocinco (obviously # 85, New England) makes the first catch of the second half.
8:24PM- The Giants allow the law firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis (running back, # 42 New England) to make a big run to the Giants 33. Brady made 14 straight Super Bowl completions, a new Super Bowl record.
8:25PM- Weird Random Fact that Al Michaels Brought Up: Tom Brady was in Candlestick Park when Dwight Clark made "The Catch" 30 years ago last month.
8:27PM- Aaron Hernandez breaks free to the end zone for a touchdown pass from Tom Brady to make it 16-9 New England with 11:20 left in the 3rd quarter.
8:28PM- 96 and 79 yard TD drives, 17 unanswered points; 17-9 Patriots with 11:20 to go in the 3rd
8:28PM- Commercial- "Smash" promo...future Bryan Award Nominee (New Series: Smash vs. Homeland...Game On...)
8:29PM- Commercial (My Cable Provider)
8:30PM- Commercial (Columbus Market)- Menards
8:30PM- Commercial- Elderly Woman talking about riding a motorcycle (SafeCo)
8:30PM (Columbus Market)- NBC4 News Teaser
8:31PM- The Giants return the kickoff 31 yards to the Giants 35-yard line.
8:37PM- The Giants are only about to march to about the New England 21-yard line.
8:38PM- A 38-yard field goal attempt by Lawrence Tynes doinks into the hashes, making it 17-12 with 6:43 left in the 3rd Quarter
8:38PM- Commercial- (I am totally confused by this...) Fiat Abarth
8:39PM- Commercial- "You're Cheatin' Heart"- Pepsi vs. Coke wars; the Coke driver wins Pepsi Max for life, lol...
8:40PM- Julian Edelman takes this kickoff to the 17-yard line.
8:40PM- More Commercials- Re-Inventing Things...nice...Toyota (they re-invent things)
8:41PM- Commercial- Coke, again...Polar Bears...again, "Hey, I got you one too..."
8:42PM- Oikos Yogurt, and yes, Uncle Jesse got head-butted for it
8:42PM- The Donald, Deion Sanders, Apolo Ohno in a Century 21 commercial
8:43PM- The Patriots begin just inside their own 20-yard line.
8:44PM- Injury Timeout, so more Commercials- First up, Jerry Seinfeld trying to get # 1 on the Acura list...and failing as Jay Leno swoops the first Acura
8:44PM- Commercial- GE as GE workers talk more about building things
8:46PM- Brady's completion streak ends at 16, extending his Super Bowl record.
8:47PM- Michigan's MVP in the RichRod era, Zoltan Mesko punts it to Will Blackmon who sneaks it into Patriots territory with 5:36 to go in the 3rd.
8:48PM- Commercial- Budweiser...taking us through time from the 1930s to the 2010s...sequel to the earlier Bud commercial
8:48PM- Commercial- Bridgestone, this time with NBA players Tim Duncan and Steve Nash
8:49PM- NFL's Fantasy game...again
8:49PM- Another The Voice promo
8:50PM- Best starting field position for the G-Men, the Patriots 48-yard line.
8:51PM- Hakeem Nicks (# 88, NY Giants) makes a great catch, but loses the ball, stripped by Jerod Mayo (linebacker # 51, New England) and recovered by Henry Hynoski (fullback # 45, NY Giants)
8:52PM- Giants taking advantage of the short field as tight end Bear Pascoe (# 86, NY Giants) grabs a catch at the Patriots 12-yard line.
8:55PM- A sack on 3rd down and 8 forces yet another field goal attempt for Lawrence Tynes, who nails it from 33 yards to make it 17-15 with 35 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
8:57PM- The Patriots get the ball back at their own 20-yard line after the kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
8:58PM- The end of the 3rd Quarter
New England Patriots 17, New York Giants 15
8:59PM- Commercial- (The History of Football)- NFL.com Evolution Commercial
9PM sharp- Commercial- Chase (and a lot of smashed glass)
9PM sharp- Commercial- Jerry Seinfeld trying to get the Acura...abridged
9:01PM- Commercial- Arby's commercial (featuring a sailor on a mission)
9:02PM- NY Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn (# 93, NY Giants), who was cut in early September by the Giants, and then picked up by them in midseason, makes a diving interception at the Giants 8-yard line beating out All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, the first turnover of the game.
9:04PM- NY Giants recover another one of their own fumbles...lucky lucky...
9:05PM- Timeout (Giants), 13:23 left in 4th/Commercial Break; first Commercial- Yup, the Ferris Bueller commercial that was so talked about with Matthew Broderick. (Honda CR-V)
9:06PM- Commercial- Another movie promo, this one, Act of Valor, coming out Oscar Weekend
9:06PM- Commercial- with a lot of animated cartoon characters (MetLife)
9:07PM- Commercial- Another "Smash" Promo (Can I say Emmy-nominee Katharine McPhee?)
9:08 & 9:09PM- 3rd & 7...big play, and then Rob Ninkovich (linebacker, # 50 New England) jumps offsides, do-over, 3rd & 7 becomes 3rd & 2
9:09PM- Hakeem Nicks once again delivers on 3rd down for a first down for a 12-yard gain.
9:11PM- Injury Timeout
9:11PM- Commercial- Hyundai (croaking boss/driving instructor?)
9:11PM- Commercial- Dog fetching Bud Light (How low can you go, Madison Ave?)
9:13PM- After the timeout, Victor Cruz delivers on 3rd & 1 for a 6-yard catch to prolong the drive for the G-Men.
9:16PM- The Giants call another timeout with 9:35 left in the 4th...poor time management (play clock was at :01)
9:18PM- Why is there not a flag on Sammy Morris (# 29, New England)? Clearly pass interference.
9:19PM- Wes Welker fair catches a punt at the Patriots 8-yard line.
9:19PM- Commercial (@ the beginning to the tune of Mr. Sandman)- Kia Optima "A Dream Car for Real Life"
9:20PM- Commercial (to the tune of The Odd Couple)- A guy working/living with chimps (Career Builder)
9:20PM- NBC Thursday Night Comedy Promo
9:23PM- Danny Woodhead keeps another Patriot drive alive with a 19-yard catch and run as we near the midway point of the 4th quarter
9:24PM- Injury Timeout
9:24PM- Commercial- Samsung Galaxy (people are in line waiting for something, and it becomes an all-out flash mob mess)
9:25PM- Another The Voice promo
9:30PM- Wes Welker drops what could be a possible TD reception that would possibly put this one away; Then Brady throws another incompletion, this time to Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch (# 84, New England)
9:31PM- Giants get the ball with 3:46 left at their own 12-yard line after a 40-yard punt. 88 yards, 1 timeout, two-minute warning, Eli Manning, look out
9:32PM- 38-yard diving catch by Mario Manningham...
9:33PM- New England challenges the ruling of the field
9:34PM- It looks like that the play could stand as Manningham has complete control of the ball going out of bounds and down on the ground...if it stands, it will be the longest play of the game.
9:35PM- The play stands, the Patriots lose their first timeout. (David Tyree, who made the diving catch on the game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLII on the sidelines)
9:36PM- Manningham, with another catch, this time 16 yards, inside the Patriots 35-yard line.
9:37PM- Hakeem Nicks takes the G-Men inside the 20 at the two-minute warning.
9:38PM- Commercial- Cadillac ATS (shot on a German race track in the "Green Valley")
9:38PM- Commercial- Swamp People promo (History Channel show)
9:39PM- Another GoDaddy commercial
9:39PM- Promo for a new NBC Drama, "Awake"
9:40PM- 2 Minutes Even, and then Ahmad Bradshaw (# 44, NY Giants) runs 7-yards to the Patriots 11-yard line.
9:41PM- Hakeem Nicks fights off two Patriots for a 4-yard catch to get a First Down and Goal to the Patriots 7-yard line.
9:42PM- Patriots call a time out. Only one left for each team with 64 seconds left in the 4th quarter.
9:43PM- Ahmad Bradshaw runs to the 1-yard line and falls backward in the end zone for a touchdown with 57 seconds left. Giants up 21-17
9:44PM- Giants try for a two-point conversion, which fails. Giants 21, Patriots 17.
9:46PM- 57 seconds, 80 yards, one timeout. Can the Patriots come back and win it?
9:47PM- Deion Branch drops another one, which would have been for a good 20/30 yards. Ouch!
9:47PM- On 2nd down, Aaron Hernandez drops a pass.
9:48PM- Patriots used their final timeout after Subway spokesman Justin Tuck (defensive end, # 91, NY Giants) sacks Brady for a 6-yard loss with 36 seconds left.
9:49PM- At all comes down to this, the Patriots need 16 yards to keep this game alive, otherwise game over...
9:49PM- Brady finds Branch for a 19-yard catch to the Patriot 33-yard line.
9:50PM- Hernandez gets another first down (11-yard gain), but in the middle of the field.
9:51PM- Giants called for 12 Men on the Field (ball moved to Patriots 49-yard line) with nine seconds left.
9:52PM- It all comes down to this, 51 yards and only 5 seconds left...Hail Mary time for the Patriots
9:52PM- The New York Giants tip the Hail Mary and are the Super Bowl XLVI Champs!!!!!!
9:54PM- The NFC wins three Super Bowls in a row for the first time since winning 13 in a row (Super Bowls XIX to XXXI)
9:55PM- Commercial Break Time as the GGGGGGG-Mennnnnnnn beat the Patriots once again.
9:55PM- Commercial- NBC Sports Network Promo
9:56PM- Commercial (Columbus Market)- Rosati Windows & Value City
9:57PM- Commercial (Columbus Market)- Roush Honda & NBC4 News Teaser
9:58PM- Super Bowl Postgame Show
10:04PM- NFL Hall of Famer Raymond Berry presents the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the New York Giants
10:05PM- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell formally presents the Lombardi Trophy to the Giants
10:08PM- Eli Manning named the Super Bowl XLVI MVP
10:13PM- Commercial- Chevy (with Animated bugs- who says that the Ad fun has to end when the clock goes to 0:00?)
10:19PM- That's the end of the long Super Bowl XLVI Coverage on NBC, as they have switched off to the season premiere of The Voice.
This has been a great ride this football season, and I can't believe it is over. :( Seven months until the next NFL game that means something.
This blog is a spin-off of A Man and His Awards, and hosts weekly football predictions as well as predictions for the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
AFC & NFC Conference Championship Picks 2011
In a few short hours, the AFC Championship will take place from Gillette Stadium as the New England Patriots host the Baltimore Ravens for the right to play in Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.
After that game, the NFC Championship will take place at Candlestick Park as the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants.
Last week, the two NFC Divisional games brought us surprises and excitement, as "The Catch III" took place as the 49ers beat New Orleans with nine seconds left last Saturday. On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers (who had the NFL's best record at 15-1) got knocked out by the New York Giants.
AFC Championship Game:
Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at New England Patriots (14-3)
and
NFC Championship Game:
New York Giants (11-7) at San Francisco 49ers (14-3)
Picks:
Can the Ravens defense be able to contain Tom Brady and the one-two tight end punch of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski? How good is the Patriot defense? These questions will be answered this afternoon.
The Giants are peaking at the right time, as witnessed last week against Green Bay. In 2007, the G-Men were the NFL road warriors, winning FOUR games on the road, including Super Bowl XLII.
As much as I want to see Harbaugh Bowl II, I think it will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLII in two weeks.
New England 31, Baltimore 14
NY Giants 28, San Francisco 19
With that said...
SUPER BOWL XLVI:
New York Giants (12-7) vs. New England Patriots (15-3)
SAD BREAKING NEWS: Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away this morning due to complications of lung cancer. He was 85.
After that game, the NFC Championship will take place at Candlestick Park as the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants.
Last week, the two NFC Divisional games brought us surprises and excitement, as "The Catch III" took place as the 49ers beat New Orleans with nine seconds left last Saturday. On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers (who had the NFL's best record at 15-1) got knocked out by the New York Giants.
AFC Championship Game:
Baltimore Ravens (13-4) at New England Patriots (14-3)
and
NFC Championship Game:
New York Giants (11-7) at San Francisco 49ers (14-3)
Picks:
Can the Ravens defense be able to contain Tom Brady and the one-two tight end punch of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski? How good is the Patriot defense? These questions will be answered this afternoon.
The Giants are peaking at the right time, as witnessed last week against Green Bay. In 2007, the G-Men were the NFL road warriors, winning FOUR games on the road, including Super Bowl XLII.
As much as I want to see Harbaugh Bowl II, I think it will be a rematch of Super Bowl XLII in two weeks.
New England 31, Baltimore 14
NY Giants 28, San Francisco 19
With that said...
SUPER BOWL XLVI:
New York Giants (12-7) vs. New England Patriots (15-3)
SAD BREAKING NEWS: Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away this morning due to complications of lung cancer. He was 85.
Friday, January 13, 2012
NFL: Week 19 (2011)- Divisional Playoffs (+ more)
The dust has settled from Round One of the 2011 NFL Playoffs, and that weekend saw all four Wild Card teams eliminated from the playoffs, one-by-one, including a thrilling finish to the weekend as Denver quarterback Tim Tebow threw an 80-yard pass to Demaryus Thomas on the first play of overtime to upset defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh, a game parodied by singer (and Denver resident) John Parr, who re-did his 1985 hit "Man in Motion" from the film St. Elmo's Fire to the tune of Tim Tebow's Fire.
WILDCARD PICKS: 3-1
DIVISIONAL ROUND:
(Saturday)
# 3 New Orleans Saints (14-3) at # 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- 4:30PM EST at Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)
# 4 Denver Broncos (9-8] at # 1 New England Patriots (13-3)- 8PM EST at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
(Sunday)
# 3 Houston Texans (11-6) at # 2 Baltimore Ravens (12-4)- 1PM EST at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
# 4 New York Giants (10-7) at # 1 Green Bay Packers (15-1)- 4:30PM EST at Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)
Here's How It Will Pan Out This Weekend:
Both # 3 seeds have things working against them in these matchups. The Saints have only won one postseason game outside of the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome, and that one game was Super Bowl XLIV. The Texans are 0-5 all-time against the Ravens, including a 29-14 loss on October 16, also at M&T Bank Stadium.
The other two matchups are rematches from games played last month. The Patriots put "Tebow Time" on a break with a decisive 41-23 win on December 18. The Packers edged the G-Men 38-35 on December 4, Green Bay's closest test before their eventual loss to Kansas City in Romeo Crennel's coaching debut with the Chiefs on December 18.
The Giants will give the Pack another test, after they (almost) shut out Atlanta on Sunday, as the Giants defense is peeking at the right time. The 49ers did not allow a rushing touchdown until Christmas Eve in Seattle, and their defense is tough, but will they stop record-shattering quarterback Drew Brees?
Predictions:
Green Bay 30, NY Giants 27
New Orleans 30, San Francisco 13
Baltimore 28, Houston 6
New England 34, Denver 3
With that said...based on the predictions...
AFC Championship (3PM EST on Jan. 22)- # 2 Baltimore Ravens at # 1 New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, MA)
NFC Championship (6:30PM EST on Jan. 22)- # 3 New Orleans Saints at # 1 Green Bay Packers (in a rematch of the regular season opener; Lambeau Field; Green Bay, WI)
WILDCARD PICKS: 3-1
DIVISIONAL ROUND:
(Saturday)
# 3 New Orleans Saints (14-3) at # 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- 4:30PM EST at Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)
# 4 Denver Broncos (9-8] at # 1 New England Patriots (13-3)- 8PM EST at Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
(Sunday)
# 3 Houston Texans (11-6) at # 2 Baltimore Ravens (12-4)- 1PM EST at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
# 4 New York Giants (10-7) at # 1 Green Bay Packers (15-1)- 4:30PM EST at Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)
Here's How It Will Pan Out This Weekend:
Both # 3 seeds have things working against them in these matchups. The Saints have only won one postseason game outside of the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome, and that one game was Super Bowl XLIV. The Texans are 0-5 all-time against the Ravens, including a 29-14 loss on October 16, also at M&T Bank Stadium.
The other two matchups are rematches from games played last month. The Patriots put "Tebow Time" on a break with a decisive 41-23 win on December 18. The Packers edged the G-Men 38-35 on December 4, Green Bay's closest test before their eventual loss to Kansas City in Romeo Crennel's coaching debut with the Chiefs on December 18.
The Giants will give the Pack another test, after they (almost) shut out Atlanta on Sunday, as the Giants defense is peeking at the right time. The 49ers did not allow a rushing touchdown until Christmas Eve in Seattle, and their defense is tough, but will they stop record-shattering quarterback Drew Brees?
Predictions:
Green Bay 30, NY Giants 27
New Orleans 30, San Francisco 13
Baltimore 28, Houston 6
New England 34, Denver 3
With that said...based on the predictions...
AFC Championship (3PM EST on Jan. 22)- # 2 Baltimore Ravens at # 1 New England Patriots (Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, MA)
NFC Championship (6:30PM EST on Jan. 22)- # 3 New Orleans Saints at # 1 Green Bay Packers (in a rematch of the regular season opener; Lambeau Field; Green Bay, WI)
Friday, January 6, 2012
2011 NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks
After 17 weeks and 256 NFL games, the playoffs begin tomorrow afternoon with the first two of four NFL Wild Card games.
The first Wild Card game pits the AFC South Champion Houston Texans in their playoff debut against the last team they beat, the Cincinnati Bengals, who backed in to the sixth and final playoff spot.
The second Wild Card game has the NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints hosting the Detroit Lions, in a rematch of a game played last month, where the Lions were without star defensive tackle Ndamakong Suh (due to suspension).
On Sunday, the third Wild Card game has the NFC East Champion New York Giants hosting the Atlanta Falcons, and the fourth and final Wild Card game has the AFC West Champion Denver Broncos, who will have their hands full against the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
THE GAMES THEMSELVES:
# 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at # 3 Houston Texans (10-6)- Saturday @ 4:30PM- Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX)
Trivia: How many NFL playoff games have been started by two rookie quarterbacks in the same game?
Answer: None...until now.
For the first time in the 90-plus years of the NFL, both teams playing in a playoff game will start two rookie quarterbacks. The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990, and the Texans are making their playoff debut. Not to mention, Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton will be playing in front of a home crowd, as Dalton is from the Houston suburb of Katy.
# 6 Detroit Lions (10-6) at # 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3)- Saturday @ 8PM- Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, LA)
How much durability can the field of Mercedes-Benz Superdome take? This will be the third of four football games played on this field (last Sunday's Saints game, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, this game, and the Allstate BCS National Championship game) in a nine day span. The Saints will be ready for this one. The same can't really be said for Detroit (making their first playoff appearance since 1999), who allowed Green Bay's backup quarterback to throw for six touchdowns.
# 5 Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at # 4 New York Giants (9-7)- Sunday @ 1PM- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
The Giants are peaking at the right time as they topped the Dallas Cowboys twice in four weeks to win the NFC East and secure the # 4 seed. The Atlanta passing and receiving game is one of the tops in the NFL.
# 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at # 4 Denver Broncos [8-8]- Sunday @ 4:30PM- Sports Authority Field at Mile High
If you thought Seattle's 7-9 record was good enough to win a division title, take a step back. The Broncos still manage to break a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West at 8-8 and clinch the # 4 seed. Unfortunately, the Broncos will play the Pittsburgh Steelers, probably the most stingiest defense in the NFL.
PREDICTIONS:
Houston 27, Cincinnati 14 (The Bengals defense will have a tough time stopping the one-two punch of Texans running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate)
New Orleans 42, Detroit 14 (Matthew Stafford is not yet ready for primetime)
NY Giants 31, Atlanta 28 (Somehow, someway, the Giants are now finding ways to win)
Pittsburgh 34, Denver 3 (Tebow Time...Over)
Based on those Predictions- Divisional Round:
# 3 New Orleans Saints (14-3) at # 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)- 4:30PM EST on Fox, January 14
# 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4) at # 1 New England Patriots (13-3)- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)- 8PM EST on CBS, January 14
# 3 Houston Texans (11-6) at # 2 Baltimore Ravens (12-4)- M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)- 1PM EST on CBS, January 15
# 4 New York Giants (10-7) at # 1 Green Bay Packers (15-1)- Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)- 4:30PM EST on Fox, January 15
The first Wild Card game pits the AFC South Champion Houston Texans in their playoff debut against the last team they beat, the Cincinnati Bengals, who backed in to the sixth and final playoff spot.
The second Wild Card game has the NFC South Champion New Orleans Saints hosting the Detroit Lions, in a rematch of a game played last month, where the Lions were without star defensive tackle Ndamakong Suh (due to suspension).
On Sunday, the third Wild Card game has the NFC East Champion New York Giants hosting the Atlanta Falcons, and the fourth and final Wild Card game has the AFC West Champion Denver Broncos, who will have their hands full against the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
THE GAMES THEMSELVES:
# 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at # 3 Houston Texans (10-6)- Saturday @ 4:30PM- Reliant Stadium (Houston, TX)
Trivia: How many NFL playoff games have been started by two rookie quarterbacks in the same game?
Answer: None...until now.
For the first time in the 90-plus years of the NFL, both teams playing in a playoff game will start two rookie quarterbacks. The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990, and the Texans are making their playoff debut. Not to mention, Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton will be playing in front of a home crowd, as Dalton is from the Houston suburb of Katy.
# 6 Detroit Lions (10-6) at # 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3)- Saturday @ 8PM- Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, LA)
How much durability can the field of Mercedes-Benz Superdome take? This will be the third of four football games played on this field (last Sunday's Saints game, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, this game, and the Allstate BCS National Championship game) in a nine day span. The Saints will be ready for this one. The same can't really be said for Detroit (making their first playoff appearance since 1999), who allowed Green Bay's backup quarterback to throw for six touchdowns.
# 5 Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at # 4 New York Giants (9-7)- Sunday @ 1PM- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
The Giants are peaking at the right time as they topped the Dallas Cowboys twice in four weeks to win the NFC East and secure the # 4 seed. The Atlanta passing and receiving game is one of the tops in the NFL.
# 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at # 4 Denver Broncos [8-8]- Sunday @ 4:30PM- Sports Authority Field at Mile High
If you thought Seattle's 7-9 record was good enough to win a division title, take a step back. The Broncos still manage to break a three-way tie for first place in the AFC West at 8-8 and clinch the # 4 seed. Unfortunately, the Broncos will play the Pittsburgh Steelers, probably the most stingiest defense in the NFL.
PREDICTIONS:
Houston 27, Cincinnati 14 (The Bengals defense will have a tough time stopping the one-two punch of Texans running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate)
New Orleans 42, Detroit 14 (Matthew Stafford is not yet ready for primetime)
NY Giants 31, Atlanta 28 (Somehow, someway, the Giants are now finding ways to win)
Pittsburgh 34, Denver 3 (Tebow Time...Over)
Based on those Predictions- Divisional Round:
# 3 New Orleans Saints (14-3) at # 2 San Francisco 49ers (13-3)- Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)- 4:30PM EST on Fox, January 14
# 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4) at # 1 New England Patriots (13-3)- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)- 8PM EST on CBS, January 14
# 3 Houston Texans (11-6) at # 2 Baltimore Ravens (12-4)- M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)- 1PM EST on CBS, January 15
# 4 New York Giants (10-7) at # 1 Green Bay Packers (15-1)- Lambeau Field (Green Bay, WI)- 4:30PM EST on Fox, January 15
Saturday, December 31, 2011
NFL Week 17 Picks & Playoff Seeding Predix 2011
By this time tomorrow, 11 of the 12 playoff seeds will have been determined, with only the fourth seed in the NFC and the NFC East Title still up for grabs, as the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. Ten seeds are still up for grabs, with only the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans locked in their playoff spots, but nine teams have already clinched the playoffs (Green Bay, San Francisco, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Detroit in the NFC; New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Houston in the AFC).
It will take about six hours to digress all the scenarios and tiebreakers that come with them, but here is who I think should get in:
(AFC)
1) New England
2) Pittsburgh
3) Houston
4) Oakland
5) Baltimore
6) Cincinnati
Week 18: Cincinnati at Houston, Baltimore at Oakland
(NFC)
1) Green Bay
2) San Francisco
3) New Orleans
4) NY Giants
5) Detroit
6) Atlanta
Week 18: Atlanta at New Orleans, Detroit at NY Giants
Here are this week's predix, and based on all the tiebreaker scenarios, who I think WILL end up getting in.
BIG GAMES OF THE WEEK:
(AFC)
Baltimore Ravens (11-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
and
(NFC)
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (both 8-7)
It's do or die time for three of these four teams (the Ravens are already in, but they could be as high as # 2, or low as # 5), but at least one (Dallas/NY Giants winner) more team will also get in.
The Bengals are 1-6 against teams with winning records (the lone win being against the Titans in Week 9), while the Ravens are going to embark on their fourth straight postseason appearance with Head Coach John Harbaugh and Quarterback Joe Flacco. A Bengals win means they are in. However, if they lose, they need two other teams at least (the NY Jets and either Oakland or Denver) to lose as well.
PICKS:
Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 13
NY Giants 37, Dallas 17
DRAFT WATCH OF THE WEEK:
Indianapolis Colts (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)
and
San Francisco 49ers (12-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-13)
For the 49ers, it's win and a First Round Bye they get. For the Colts, it's lose and clinch the top pick in the 2012 draft. However, the Colts have won two straight after reeling 14 straight losses dating back to last year in the playoffs. A Colts win would kill their shot at the # 1 pick in the NFL draft and put Sam Bradford on the hot seat in St. Louis.
PICKS:
Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 19
San Francisco 28, St. Louis 0
# 1 DRAFT PICK: St. Louis
OTHER EARLY GAMES:
Detroit Lions (10-5) at Green Bay Packers (14-1)
Detroit victorious at Lambeau? If the Packers rest their starters (given the Pack have already clinched Home Field), it is possible.
PICK: Detroit 33, Green Bay 13
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at New Orleans Saints (12-3)
PICK: New Orleans 42, Carolina 34
New York Jets [8-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-10)
PICK: Miami 23, NY Jets 20 (OT)
Buffalo Bills (6-9) at New England Patriots (12-3)
PICK: New England 34, Buffalo 7
Tennessee Titans [8-7) Houston Texans (10-5)
PICK: Tennessee 30, Houston 6
OTHER LATE GAMES:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) at Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
Raheem Morris, we hardly knew ye.
PICK: Atlanta 35, Tampa Bay 0
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Cleveland Browns (4-11)
PICK: Pittsburgh 21, Cleveland 0
San Diego Chargers (7-8] at Oakland Raiders [8-7)
PICK: Oakland 23, San Diego 16
Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) at Denver Broncos [8-7)
Kyle Orton was the starter at Denver at the beginning of the season. This time, he's back at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and he's making it personal.
PICK: Kansas City 28, Denver 23
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (both 7-8]
PICK: Seattle 20, Arizona 19
PLAYOFF PAIRINGS:
(NFC)
1) Green Bay
2) San Francisco
3) New Orleans
4) NY Giants
5) Detroit
6) Atlanta
(AFC)
1) New England
2) Baltimore
3) Houston
4) Oakland
5) Pittsburgh
6) Cincinnati
UPSET PLAYOFF PICK: Either Dallas, Denver, and/or Tennessee
BLACK MONDAY:
Tomorrow is the oft-referred to "Black Monday", where coaches on the NFL hot seat get pink slipped. Black Monday came early in Jacksonville, Miami, and Kansas City this season. What coaches could be gone? Well, find out now...
(GONE)
San Diego- Norv Turner (Turner is gone, no doubt, and GM A.J. Smith will follow Turner out the door as well)
Tampa Bay- Raheem Morris (With Tampa Bay headed to a 4-12 finish after a 4-2 start, changes need to be made in Tampa)
St. Louis- Steve Spagnuolo (This is a gimme)
Indianapolis- Jim Caldwell (Unless they play the Peyton Manning sympathy card)
Minnesota- Leslie Frazier (Could go either way)
(50-50)
Cleveland- Pat Shurmur
Philadelphia- Andy Reid
It will take about six hours to digress all the scenarios and tiebreakers that come with them, but here is who I think should get in:
(AFC)
1) New England
2) Pittsburgh
3) Houston
4) Oakland
5) Baltimore
6) Cincinnati
Week 18: Cincinnati at Houston, Baltimore at Oakland
(NFC)
1) Green Bay
2) San Francisco
3) New Orleans
4) NY Giants
5) Detroit
6) Atlanta
Week 18: Atlanta at New Orleans, Detroit at NY Giants
Here are this week's predix, and based on all the tiebreaker scenarios, who I think WILL end up getting in.
BIG GAMES OF THE WEEK:
(AFC)
Baltimore Ravens (11-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
and
(NFC)
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (both 8-7)
It's do or die time for three of these four teams (the Ravens are already in, but they could be as high as # 2, or low as # 5), but at least one (Dallas/NY Giants winner) more team will also get in.
The Bengals are 1-6 against teams with winning records (the lone win being against the Titans in Week 9), while the Ravens are going to embark on their fourth straight postseason appearance with Head Coach John Harbaugh and Quarterback Joe Flacco. A Bengals win means they are in. However, if they lose, they need two other teams at least (the NY Jets and either Oakland or Denver) to lose as well.
PICKS:
Baltimore 27, Cincinnati 13
NY Giants 37, Dallas 17
DRAFT WATCH OF THE WEEK:
Indianapolis Colts (2-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-11)
and
San Francisco 49ers (12-3) at St. Louis Rams (2-13)
For the 49ers, it's win and a First Round Bye they get. For the Colts, it's lose and clinch the top pick in the 2012 draft. However, the Colts have won two straight after reeling 14 straight losses dating back to last year in the playoffs. A Colts win would kill their shot at the # 1 pick in the NFL draft and put Sam Bradford on the hot seat in St. Louis.
PICKS:
Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 19
San Francisco 28, St. Louis 0
# 1 DRAFT PICK: St. Louis
OTHER EARLY GAMES:
Detroit Lions (10-5) at Green Bay Packers (14-1)
Detroit victorious at Lambeau? If the Packers rest their starters (given the Pack have already clinched Home Field), it is possible.
PICK: Detroit 33, Green Bay 13
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at New Orleans Saints (12-3)
PICK: New Orleans 42, Carolina 34
New York Jets [8-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-10)
PICK: Miami 23, NY Jets 20 (OT)
Buffalo Bills (6-9) at New England Patriots (12-3)
PICK: New England 34, Buffalo 7
Tennessee Titans [8-7) Houston Texans (10-5)
PICK: Tennessee 30, Houston 6
OTHER LATE GAMES:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11) at Atlanta Falcons (9-6)
Raheem Morris, we hardly knew ye.
PICK: Atlanta 35, Tampa Bay 0
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) at Cleveland Browns (4-11)
PICK: Pittsburgh 21, Cleveland 0
San Diego Chargers (7-8] at Oakland Raiders [8-7)
PICK: Oakland 23, San Diego 16
Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) at Denver Broncos [8-7)
Kyle Orton was the starter at Denver at the beginning of the season. This time, he's back at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and he's making it personal.
PICK: Kansas City 28, Denver 23
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (both 7-8]
PICK: Seattle 20, Arizona 19
PLAYOFF PAIRINGS:
(NFC)
1) Green Bay
2) San Francisco
3) New Orleans
4) NY Giants
5) Detroit
6) Atlanta
(AFC)
1) New England
2) Baltimore
3) Houston
4) Oakland
5) Pittsburgh
6) Cincinnati
UPSET PLAYOFF PICK: Either Dallas, Denver, and/or Tennessee
BLACK MONDAY:
Tomorrow is the oft-referred to "Black Monday", where coaches on the NFL hot seat get pink slipped. Black Monday came early in Jacksonville, Miami, and Kansas City this season. What coaches could be gone? Well, find out now...
(GONE)
San Diego- Norv Turner (Turner is gone, no doubt, and GM A.J. Smith will follow Turner out the door as well)
Tampa Bay- Raheem Morris (With Tampa Bay headed to a 4-12 finish after a 4-2 start, changes need to be made in Tampa)
St. Louis- Steve Spagnuolo (This is a gimme)
Indianapolis- Jim Caldwell (Unless they play the Peyton Manning sympathy card)
Minnesota- Leslie Frazier (Could go either way)
(50-50)
Cleveland- Pat Shurmur
Philadelphia- Andy Reid
College Bowl Picks 2011: Part 3
There are a couple of Bowl Games going on (Sun Bowl- Georgia Tech vs. Utah, DJBC Sports Corner picked the Yellow Jackets to win this; and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl- Illinois vs. 6-7 UCLA, both the Illini and Bruins are being coached by assistant head coaches following the dismissals of Ron Zook and Rick Neuheisel respectively; DJBC Sports Corner picked UCLA).
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Reliant Stadium- Houston, TX)
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats
PICK: Was Texas A&M 30-10 over Northwestern
Sun Bowl (Sun Bowl- El Paso, TX)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes
PICK: Georgia Tech 31, Utah 17
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (AT&T Park- San Francisco, CA)
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UCLA Bruins
PICK: UCLA 41, Illinois 33
AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Liberty Bowl- Memphis, TN)
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Fighting Commodores
PICK: Cincinnati 37, Vandy 23
Chick-fil-A Bowl (Georgia Dome- Atlanta, GA)
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers
PICK: Virginia 27, Auburn 23
No Games on New Year's Day due to the Final Week of the NFL Regular Season
MONDAY JANUARY 2:
TicketCity Bowl (Cotton Bowl- Dallas, TX)
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Houston Cougars
PICK: Houston 27, Penn State 21
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl (EverBank Field- Jacksonville, FL)
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators
This is practically a home game for the Gators, because it's only an hour away from Gainesville, so the Gator fans won't have too far to travel. This is probably eerily to the 2007 BCS National Championship when the Buckeyes lost to LSU at the Superdome. The Gators will bring the noise and the speed. This is the final game for Buckeye offensive and defensive coordinators Jim Bollman and Jim Heacock. The former was one of the first Jim Tressel assistant hires, and the latter had been on staff since the John Cooper era. This is a game for Will Muschamp to prove that he is the coach for the Gators. This will be the final bowl game not only for the Buckeye seniors, but for the Buckeye juniors as well, because of next year's postseason ban. This will be a good game, but the Gators will edge the Buckeyes due to the SEC speed and the home field.
PICK: Florida 20, Ohio State 17
Outback Bowl (Raymond James Stadium- Tampa, FL)
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Michigan State Spartans
PICK: Georgia 37, Michigan State 21
Capital One Bowl (Citrus Bowl- Orlando, FL)
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
PICK: South Carolina 28, Nebraska 19
Rose Bowl presented by Vizio (The Rose Bowl- Pasadena, CA)
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks
PICK: Oregon 42, Wisconsin 28
Tostito's Fiesta Bowl (University of Phoenix Stadium- Glendale, AZ)
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Stanford Cardinal
Erin Andrews, ESPN sideline reporter tweeted before the BCS Selection show, "a loss in Baton Rouge vs. a loss in Ames", referring to which loss would determine the # 2 team in the final BCS rankings (with would be Alabama). Oklahoma State was robbed of a spot (because of that loss to Iowa State) in the BCS National Championship game.
PICK: Stanford 49, Oklahoma State 31
TUESDAY January 3
Allstate Sugar Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Superdome- New Orleans, LA)
Michigan Wolverines vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Could this be Denard's last stand? We hope not (we need him to beat Urban Meyer in Columbus in November). But, Michigan's improved defense, coached by defensive coordinator Greg Mattison turned heads this year, and Michigan's defense will give Virginia Tech hell. The Hokies also have problem with converting red zone possessions into touchdowns. This is what will separate the men (Michigan) from the boys (Virginia Tech).
PICK: Michigan 38, Virginia Tech 24
WEDNESDAY January 4
Discover Orange Bowl (SunLife Stadium- Miami, FL)
Clemson Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
PICK: Clemson 33, West Virginia 21
FRIDAY January 6
AT&T Cotton Bowl (Cowboys Stadium- Arlington, TX)
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Kansas State Wildcats
PICK: Arkansas 24, Kansas State 21
SATURDAY January 7
BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, AL)
Pitt Panthers vs. SMU Mustangs
PICK: Pitt 20, SMU 7
SUNDAY January 8
GoDaddy.com Bowl (Mobile, AL)
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
PICK: ??
MONDAY January 9
Allstate BCS National Championship Game (Mercedes-Benz Superdome- New Orleans, LA)
# 1 LSU Tigers vs. # 2 Alabama Crimson Tide
For the sixth straight year, the Southeastern Conference will win the BCS National Championship game. In the first game between these two schools this year, no touchdowns were scored in a boring 9-6 overtime field goal defensive battle won by the Tigers. There will be touchdowns in this game (knock on wood), and the Tigers will be the 3rd 14-0 team in I-FBS history.
PICK: LSU 30, Alabama 24
Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Reliant Stadium- Houston, TX)
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats
PICK: Was Texas A&M 30-10 over Northwestern
Sun Bowl (Sun Bowl- El Paso, TX)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes
PICK: Georgia Tech 31, Utah 17
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (AT&T Park- San Francisco, CA)
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. UCLA Bruins
PICK: UCLA 41, Illinois 33
AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Liberty Bowl- Memphis, TN)
Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Fighting Commodores
PICK: Cincinnati 37, Vandy 23
Chick-fil-A Bowl (Georgia Dome- Atlanta, GA)
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers
PICK: Virginia 27, Auburn 23
No Games on New Year's Day due to the Final Week of the NFL Regular Season
MONDAY JANUARY 2:
TicketCity Bowl (Cotton Bowl- Dallas, TX)
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Houston Cougars
PICK: Houston 27, Penn State 21
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl (EverBank Field- Jacksonville, FL)
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators
This is practically a home game for the Gators, because it's only an hour away from Gainesville, so the Gator fans won't have too far to travel. This is probably eerily to the 2007 BCS National Championship when the Buckeyes lost to LSU at the Superdome. The Gators will bring the noise and the speed. This is the final game for Buckeye offensive and defensive coordinators Jim Bollman and Jim Heacock. The former was one of the first Jim Tressel assistant hires, and the latter had been on staff since the John Cooper era. This is a game for Will Muschamp to prove that he is the coach for the Gators. This will be the final bowl game not only for the Buckeye seniors, but for the Buckeye juniors as well, because of next year's postseason ban. This will be a good game, but the Gators will edge the Buckeyes due to the SEC speed and the home field.
PICK: Florida 20, Ohio State 17
Outback Bowl (Raymond James Stadium- Tampa, FL)
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Michigan State Spartans
PICK: Georgia 37, Michigan State 21
Capital One Bowl (Citrus Bowl- Orlando, FL)
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
PICK: South Carolina 28, Nebraska 19
Rose Bowl presented by Vizio (The Rose Bowl- Pasadena, CA)
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oregon Ducks
PICK: Oregon 42, Wisconsin 28
Tostito's Fiesta Bowl (University of Phoenix Stadium- Glendale, AZ)
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Stanford Cardinal
Erin Andrews, ESPN sideline reporter tweeted before the BCS Selection show, "a loss in Baton Rouge vs. a loss in Ames", referring to which loss would determine the # 2 team in the final BCS rankings (with would be Alabama). Oklahoma State was robbed of a spot (because of that loss to Iowa State) in the BCS National Championship game.
PICK: Stanford 49, Oklahoma State 31
TUESDAY January 3
Allstate Sugar Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Superdome- New Orleans, LA)
Michigan Wolverines vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Could this be Denard's last stand? We hope not (we need him to beat Urban Meyer in Columbus in November). But, Michigan's improved defense, coached by defensive coordinator Greg Mattison turned heads this year, and Michigan's defense will give Virginia Tech hell. The Hokies also have problem with converting red zone possessions into touchdowns. This is what will separate the men (Michigan) from the boys (Virginia Tech).
PICK: Michigan 38, Virginia Tech 24
WEDNESDAY January 4
Discover Orange Bowl (SunLife Stadium- Miami, FL)
Clemson Tigers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers
PICK: Clemson 33, West Virginia 21
FRIDAY January 6
AT&T Cotton Bowl (Cowboys Stadium- Arlington, TX)
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Kansas State Wildcats
PICK: Arkansas 24, Kansas State 21
SATURDAY January 7
BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, AL)
Pitt Panthers vs. SMU Mustangs
PICK: Pitt 20, SMU 7
SUNDAY January 8
GoDaddy.com Bowl (Mobile, AL)
Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
PICK: ??
MONDAY January 9
Allstate BCS National Championship Game (Mercedes-Benz Superdome- New Orleans, LA)
# 1 LSU Tigers vs. # 2 Alabama Crimson Tide
For the sixth straight year, the Southeastern Conference will win the BCS National Championship game. In the first game between these two schools this year, no touchdowns were scored in a boring 9-6 overtime field goal defensive battle won by the Tigers. There will be touchdowns in this game (knock on wood), and the Tigers will be the 3rd 14-0 team in I-FBS history.
PICK: LSU 30, Alabama 24
Monday, December 26, 2011
2011 College Bowl Season: Part 2
Christmas is over, and there are more college bowl games to play as the old year fades into the sunset and the new year rises like a phoenix.
TONIGHT-
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA)
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Missouri Tigers
Pick: Mizzou 20, UNC 14
TUESDAY-
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl (Ford Field- Detroit, MI)
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Pick: Purdue 34, Western Michigan 13
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, NC)
North Carolina State Wolf Pack vs. Louisville Cardinals
Pick: Louisville 21, NC State 17
WEDNESDAY-
Military Bowl (FedEx Field- Landover, MD)
Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons
Pick: Toledo 28, Air Force 19
Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl (QualComm Stadium- San Diego, CA)
Cal Golden Bears vs. Texas Longhorns
Pick: Texas 33, Cal 22
THURSDAY-
Champps Sports Bowl (Orlando, FL)
Florida State Seminoles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Pick: Notre Dame 24, Florida State 20
Valero Alamo Bowl (Alamodome- San Antonio, TX)
Baylor Bears vs. Washington Huskies
Pick: Baylor 41, Washington 17
FRIDAY-
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas, TX)
Brigham Young Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Pick: Tulsa 23, BYU 19
New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Yankee Stadium- The Bronx, NY)
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Pick: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 21
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (LP Stadium- Nashville, TN)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Pick: Mississippi State 42, Wake 10
Insight Bowl (Sun Devil Stadium- Tempe, AZ)
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Pick: Oklahoma 34, Iowa 21
On Friday- The New Year's Eve, January 2*, and BCS Bowl Games
*- NO Bowl Games on New Year's Day, due to the Final Week of the NFL Regular Season
Projected Picks:
Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: Florida
Outback Bowl: Georgia
Capital One Bowl: Nebraska
Rose Bowl: Oregon
Tostito's Fiesta Bowl: Stanford
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Michigan
Discover Orange Bowl: Clemson
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Arkansas
BCS National Championship: LSU
TONIGHT-
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA)
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Missouri Tigers
Pick: Mizzou 20, UNC 14
TUESDAY-
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl (Ford Field- Detroit, MI)
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Pick: Purdue 34, Western Michigan 13
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, NC)
North Carolina State Wolf Pack vs. Louisville Cardinals
Pick: Louisville 21, NC State 17
WEDNESDAY-
Military Bowl (FedEx Field- Landover, MD)
Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons
Pick: Toledo 28, Air Force 19
Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl (QualComm Stadium- San Diego, CA)
Cal Golden Bears vs. Texas Longhorns
Pick: Texas 33, Cal 22
THURSDAY-
Champps Sports Bowl (Orlando, FL)
Florida State Seminoles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Pick: Notre Dame 24, Florida State 20
Valero Alamo Bowl (Alamodome- San Antonio, TX)
Baylor Bears vs. Washington Huskies
Pick: Baylor 41, Washington 17
FRIDAY-
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas, TX)
Brigham Young Cougars vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Pick: Tulsa 23, BYU 19
New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Yankee Stadium- The Bronx, NY)
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Pick: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 21
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (LP Stadium- Nashville, TN)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Pick: Mississippi State 42, Wake 10
Insight Bowl (Sun Devil Stadium- Tempe, AZ)
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Pick: Oklahoma 34, Iowa 21
On Friday- The New Year's Eve, January 2*, and BCS Bowl Games
*- NO Bowl Games on New Year's Day, due to the Final Week of the NFL Regular Season
Projected Picks:
Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: Florida
Outback Bowl: Georgia
Capital One Bowl: Nebraska
Rose Bowl: Oregon
Tostito's Fiesta Bowl: Stanford
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Michigan
Discover Orange Bowl: Clemson
AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Arkansas
BCS National Championship: LSU
Thursday, December 22, 2011
NFL Week 16 Predix (2011)
Tonight, the penultimate week of the 2011 NFL regular season takes place as the AFC South champs Houston Texans look to sweep the Indianapolis Colts for the first time ever. Because of the Christmas holiday on Sunday, game day is on Saturday, where there will be 13 Saturday afternoon matchups. On Sunday night, the NFC North champs Green Bay host the Chicago Bears, who will make another QB switch. On Monday night, the New Orleans Saints can win the NFC South with a win over Wild Card contender Atlanta in the Monday Night Football season finale.
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Houston Texans (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (1-13)
Pick: Indianapolis 20, Houston 17
UPSET PICK (other than above):
Arizona Cardinals (7-7) at Cincinnati Bengals [8-6)
The Bengals MUST win their final two games in order to have ANY hope to get into the playoffs (and hope that the NY Jets lose at least ONE of their final two). The Arizona Cardinals MUST win their final two and hope Atlanta and Detroit stumble (which won't happen eventually). The Bengals secondary will have their hands full trying to cover Larry Fitzgerald. If John Skelton is the quarterback for Arizona, and all indications are he will be, it will be a blue Christmas in Cincinnati.
Pick: Arizona 34, Cincinnati 24
SATURDAY'S GAMES:
Cleveland Browns (4-10) at Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
Pat Shurmur is on the hot seat in Cleveland. The Ravens defense will make Shurmur's seat even hotter.
Pick: Baltimore 31, Cleveland 13
Denver Broncos [8-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-9)
Remember when the Bills were 5-2 and as hot as they were in the early 1990s? I completely forgot. They've lost seven in a row. Make that eight, because what's this I hear? TEBOW TIME!
Pick: Denver 20, Buffalo 13
Oakland Raiders (7-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-8]
Romeo, oh Romeo, where foreout thou Romeo? Without the coaching change in Kansas City, the Packers would be 14-0 right now. The Raiders are in a hurt of trouble now as the Chiefs are still alive in the AFC West division race...for now.
Pick: Kansas City 21, Oakland 19
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10) at Tennessee Titans (7-7)
Pick: Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 6
Miami Dolphins (5-9) at New England Patriots (11-3)
Pick: New England 35, Miami 7
The Battle of New York: Giants (7-7) at Jets [8-6)
Both of these teams need wins to stay alive. The J-E-T-S hold the sixth and final slot in the AFC currently, while the Giants need a win to keep up with Dallas in the NFC East division race.
Pick: Giants 30, Jets 23
St. Louis Rams (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Pick: Pittsburgh 43, St. Louis 0
Minnesota Vikings (2-12) at Washington Redskins (5-9)
Pick: Washington 27, Minnesota 3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) at Carolina Panthers (5-9)
The Bucs have lost eight straight and Raheem Morris is on his way out the door.
Pick: Carolina 33, Tampa Bay 7
San Diego Chargers (7-7) at Detroit Lions (9-5)
Pick: Detroit 34, San Diego 31
San Francisco 49ers (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Pick: San Francisco 21, Seattle 10
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8] at Dallas Cowboys [8-6)
This is do-or-die time for the Eagles. A Cowboy win (teamed with a Giant loss) could wrap up the NFC East.
Pick: Dallas 38, Philadelphia 31
CHRISTMAS NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Chicago Bears (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (13-1)
The surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins raised their glasses high after the Packers lost at Arrowhead to the Chiefs last week. Luke McCown is starting for the Bears after Caleb Hanie proved ineffectiveness through four starts, all embarrassing losses.
Pick: Green Bay 37, Chicago 3
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SEASON FINALE:
Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New Orleans Saints (11-3)
Pick: New Orleans 31, Atlanta 17
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Houston Texans (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (1-13)
Pick: Indianapolis 20, Houston 17
UPSET PICK (other than above):
Arizona Cardinals (7-7) at Cincinnati Bengals [8-6)
The Bengals MUST win their final two games in order to have ANY hope to get into the playoffs (and hope that the NY Jets lose at least ONE of their final two). The Arizona Cardinals MUST win their final two and hope Atlanta and Detroit stumble (which won't happen eventually). The Bengals secondary will have their hands full trying to cover Larry Fitzgerald. If John Skelton is the quarterback for Arizona, and all indications are he will be, it will be a blue Christmas in Cincinnati.
Pick: Arizona 34, Cincinnati 24
SATURDAY'S GAMES:
Cleveland Browns (4-10) at Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
Pat Shurmur is on the hot seat in Cleveland. The Ravens defense will make Shurmur's seat even hotter.
Pick: Baltimore 31, Cleveland 13
Denver Broncos [8-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-9)
Remember when the Bills were 5-2 and as hot as they were in the early 1990s? I completely forgot. They've lost seven in a row. Make that eight, because what's this I hear? TEBOW TIME!
Pick: Denver 20, Buffalo 13
Oakland Raiders (7-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-8]
Romeo, oh Romeo, where foreout thou Romeo? Without the coaching change in Kansas City, the Packers would be 14-0 right now. The Raiders are in a hurt of trouble now as the Chiefs are still alive in the AFC West division race...for now.
Pick: Kansas City 21, Oakland 19
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10) at Tennessee Titans (7-7)
Pick: Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 6
Miami Dolphins (5-9) at New England Patriots (11-3)
Pick: New England 35, Miami 7
The Battle of New York: Giants (7-7) at Jets [8-6)
Both of these teams need wins to stay alive. The J-E-T-S hold the sixth and final slot in the AFC currently, while the Giants need a win to keep up with Dallas in the NFC East division race.
Pick: Giants 30, Jets 23
St. Louis Rams (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Pick: Pittsburgh 43, St. Louis 0
Minnesota Vikings (2-12) at Washington Redskins (5-9)
Pick: Washington 27, Minnesota 3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) at Carolina Panthers (5-9)
The Bucs have lost eight straight and Raheem Morris is on his way out the door.
Pick: Carolina 33, Tampa Bay 7
San Diego Chargers (7-7) at Detroit Lions (9-5)
Pick: Detroit 34, San Diego 31
San Francisco 49ers (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Pick: San Francisco 21, Seattle 10
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8] at Dallas Cowboys [8-6)
This is do-or-die time for the Eagles. A Cowboy win (teamed with a Giant loss) could wrap up the NFC East.
Pick: Dallas 38, Philadelphia 31
CHRISTMAS NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Chicago Bears (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (13-1)
The surviving members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins raised their glasses high after the Packers lost at Arrowhead to the Chiefs last week. Luke McCown is starting for the Bears after Caleb Hanie proved ineffectiveness through four starts, all embarrassing losses.
Pick: Green Bay 37, Chicago 3
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SEASON FINALE:
Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New Orleans Saints (11-3)
Pick: New Orleans 31, Atlanta 17
Saturday, December 17, 2011
2011 Bowl Games: Part 1
Bowl Season is Here! Could this be the last Bowl Season ever? I hope not. I love Bowl Games, because they are the tradition of college football.
NEW MEXICO BOWL at University (of New Mexico) Stadium (Earlier Today):
Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Result: Temple won 37-15
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL at Boise State Bronco Stadium (In Progress):
Ohio Bobcats vs. Utah State Aggies
R&L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL at Mercedes Benz Superdome (Tonight):
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns
Pick: San Diego State 27, LL 19
BEEF O'BRADY'S ST. PETERSBURG BOWL at Tropicana Field (Tuesday):
Florida International Owls vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Pick: FIU 30, Marshall 22
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL at Snapdragon Stadium (Wednesday):
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Louisiana Tech Techsters
Pick: TCU 33, La Tech 8
MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL at Sam Boyd Stadium (Thursday):
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Boise State Broncos
Pick: Boise State 39, Arizona State 16
NEW MEXICO BOWL at University (of New Mexico) Stadium (Earlier Today):
Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Result: Temple won 37-15
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL at Boise State Bronco Stadium (In Progress):
Ohio Bobcats vs. Utah State Aggies
R&L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL at Mercedes Benz Superdome (Tonight):
San Diego State Aztecs vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Rajin' Cajuns
Pick: San Diego State 27, LL 19
BEEF O'BRADY'S ST. PETERSBURG BOWL at Tropicana Field (Tuesday):
Florida International Owls vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Pick: FIU 30, Marshall 22
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL at Snapdragon Stadium (Wednesday):
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Louisiana Tech Techsters
Pick: TCU 33, La Tech 8
MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL at Sam Boyd Stadium (Thursday):
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Boise State Broncos
Pick: Boise State 39, Arizona State 16
Thursday, December 15, 2011
NFL Week 15 Predictions
What a beginning to the week. A controversial playmaker slapped with a one-game suspension for a flagrant hit, and not one, but TWO coach firings on Monday.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) at Atlanta Falcons [8-5)
Pick: Atlanta 28, Jacksonville 17
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Dallas Cowboys (7-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9)
The Bucs gave up 41 unanswered points last week, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered yet another December collapse. Can the Boys get it back on track and keep up with the Giants?
Pick: Dallas 27, Tampa Bay 13
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK/MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (both 10-3)
The 1920 Decatur Staleys are the only team not to allow a rushing touchdown through 13 games. That is a fact.
Pick: San Francisco 23, Pittsburgh 13
COULD BE "FLIRTING WITH DISASTER" GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) at St. Louis Rams (2-11)
This has "trap game" all over it. The Bengals are 0-3 in the Arch City, having lost the two most recent trips to the Rams (1996- 26-16 and 2003- 27-10; the other trip was in 1985, a loss to the then-St. Louis Cardinals). The Bengals gave up a game-winning touchdown with two seconds left to a third-string rookie quarterback, and after a 6-2 start, have lost four of their last five. The Bengals need to win out, in order to make the playoffs, otherwise Marvin Lewis will be out of a job come January 2. Did I say "trap game"? Ah, yes. One of the Rams' two wins this year, and their only one at the Edward Jones Dome, was against the New Orleans Saints (who are a measly 10-3). The Rams could play spoiler here, and a St. Louis win could spell the end of the Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati.
Pick: St. Louis 28, Cincinnati 20
OTHER BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
New England Patriots (10-3) at Denver Broncos [8-5)
Tebow Time. Those are the two words in the latter quarter of the game that puts opposing players and coaches on edge. Last Sunday, with no Bronco timeouts left, and the Chicago Bears up 10-7 with two minutes left in the 4th quarter, all the Bears had to do was stay inbounds and let the clock run out. However, enough time was left on the clock for a 59-yard Matt Prater field goal to send the game into overtime. After Bears running back Marion Barber III fumbled, Prater kicked the game-winner from 51 yards out to cap off another Tebow comeback. This week will be a different story. The New England Patriots have played all four quarters of football for all of about the last 11 seasons, and will continue to be among the elite teams. With that said, there won't be any Tebow Time this Sunday, because the Patriots will have put this one away, because they play all four quarters, and just not the fourth quarter.
Pick: New England 34, Denver 7
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Washington Redskins (4-9) at New York Giants (7-6)
Pick: NY Giants 27, Washington 20
Carolina Panthers (4-9) at Houston Texans (10-3)
The Texans, for the first time in their ten year history, are playoff bound, as they clinched their first-ever AFC South title with a come from behind win in Cincinnati, paired up with a Tennessee loss to New Orleans. TJ Yates can go 3-0 as a third-string rookie starter.
Pick: Houston 31, Carolina 21
Miami Dolphins (4-9) at Buffalo Bills (5-8]
On Monday, the Miami Dolphins fired head football coach Tony Sparano, and so that kills all of the Miami muster right about there. The Bills will snap their six-game losing streak by spoiling interim Fins coach Todd Bowles' debut.
Pick: Buffalo 34, Miami 14
Seattle Seahawks (6-7) at Chicago Bears (7-6)
It looks like Seattle is fighting their way back into the wildcard race, and with Caleb Hanie struggling, and the Bears being Tim Tebow's most recent victim, the Seahawks will pull their way to .500.
Pick: Seattle 21, Chicago 10
New Orleans Saints (10-3) at Minnesota Vikings (2-11)
Pick: New Orleans 38, Minnesota 14
Green Bay Packers (13-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-8]
On Monday, the Chiefs fired Todd Haley, and placed Romeo Crennel as the interim coach. Can the Chiefs knock down the Pack? Or will the Packers be the first defending champs to start 14-0?
Pick: Green Bay 37, Kansas City 7
Tennessee Titans (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (0-13)
Pick: Tennessee 31, Indianapolis 24
New York Jets [8-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-8]
Pick: NY Jets 28, Philadelphia 23
Cleveland Browns (4-9) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Pick: Arizona 31, Cleveland 13
Detroit Lions [8-5) at Oakland Raiders (7-6)
Can the Lions find their way to the Playoffs? Can Carson Palmer throw more touchdowns than interceptions? Find out, now...
Pick: Oakland 34, Detroit 27
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Baltimore Ravens (10-3) at San Diego Chargers (6-7)
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Diego 21
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) at Atlanta Falcons [8-5)
Pick: Atlanta 28, Jacksonville 17
SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Dallas Cowboys (7-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9)
The Bucs gave up 41 unanswered points last week, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered yet another December collapse. Can the Boys get it back on track and keep up with the Giants?
Pick: Dallas 27, Tampa Bay 13
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK/MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers at San Francisco 49ers (both 10-3)
The 1920 Decatur Staleys are the only team not to allow a rushing touchdown through 13 games. That is a fact.
Pick: San Francisco 23, Pittsburgh 13
COULD BE "FLIRTING WITH DISASTER" GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cincinnati Bengals (7-6) at St. Louis Rams (2-11)
This has "trap game" all over it. The Bengals are 0-3 in the Arch City, having lost the two most recent trips to the Rams (1996- 26-16 and 2003- 27-10; the other trip was in 1985, a loss to the then-St. Louis Cardinals). The Bengals gave up a game-winning touchdown with two seconds left to a third-string rookie quarterback, and after a 6-2 start, have lost four of their last five. The Bengals need to win out, in order to make the playoffs, otherwise Marvin Lewis will be out of a job come January 2. Did I say "trap game"? Ah, yes. One of the Rams' two wins this year, and their only one at the Edward Jones Dome, was against the New Orleans Saints (who are a measly 10-3). The Rams could play spoiler here, and a St. Louis win could spell the end of the Marvin Lewis era in Cincinnati.
Pick: St. Louis 28, Cincinnati 20
OTHER BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
New England Patriots (10-3) at Denver Broncos [8-5)
Tebow Time. Those are the two words in the latter quarter of the game that puts opposing players and coaches on edge. Last Sunday, with no Bronco timeouts left, and the Chicago Bears up 10-7 with two minutes left in the 4th quarter, all the Bears had to do was stay inbounds and let the clock run out. However, enough time was left on the clock for a 59-yard Matt Prater field goal to send the game into overtime. After Bears running back Marion Barber III fumbled, Prater kicked the game-winner from 51 yards out to cap off another Tebow comeback. This week will be a different story. The New England Patriots have played all four quarters of football for all of about the last 11 seasons, and will continue to be among the elite teams. With that said, there won't be any Tebow Time this Sunday, because the Patriots will have put this one away, because they play all four quarters, and just not the fourth quarter.
Pick: New England 34, Denver 7
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Washington Redskins (4-9) at New York Giants (7-6)
Pick: NY Giants 27, Washington 20
Carolina Panthers (4-9) at Houston Texans (10-3)
The Texans, for the first time in their ten year history, are playoff bound, as they clinched their first-ever AFC South title with a come from behind win in Cincinnati, paired up with a Tennessee loss to New Orleans. TJ Yates can go 3-0 as a third-string rookie starter.
Pick: Houston 31, Carolina 21
Miami Dolphins (4-9) at Buffalo Bills (5-8]
On Monday, the Miami Dolphins fired head football coach Tony Sparano, and so that kills all of the Miami muster right about there. The Bills will snap their six-game losing streak by spoiling interim Fins coach Todd Bowles' debut.
Pick: Buffalo 34, Miami 14
Seattle Seahawks (6-7) at Chicago Bears (7-6)
It looks like Seattle is fighting their way back into the wildcard race, and with Caleb Hanie struggling, and the Bears being Tim Tebow's most recent victim, the Seahawks will pull their way to .500.
Pick: Seattle 21, Chicago 10
New Orleans Saints (10-3) at Minnesota Vikings (2-11)
Pick: New Orleans 38, Minnesota 14
Green Bay Packers (13-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-8]
On Monday, the Chiefs fired Todd Haley, and placed Romeo Crennel as the interim coach. Can the Chiefs knock down the Pack? Or will the Packers be the first defending champs to start 14-0?
Pick: Green Bay 37, Kansas City 7
Tennessee Titans (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (0-13)
Pick: Tennessee 31, Indianapolis 24
New York Jets [8-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-8]
Pick: NY Jets 28, Philadelphia 23
Cleveland Browns (4-9) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Pick: Arizona 31, Cleveland 13
Detroit Lions [8-5) at Oakland Raiders (7-6)
Can the Lions find their way to the Playoffs? Can Carson Palmer throw more touchdowns than interceptions? Find out, now...
Pick: Oakland 34, Detroit 27
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Baltimore Ravens (10-3) at San Diego Chargers (6-7)
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Diego 21
Thursday, December 8, 2011
NFL: 2011 Week 14 Predix + Army/Navy and Heisman
The 14th week of the NFL season kicks off tonight from Heinz Field as the Pittsburgh Steelers look to stay afloat in the AFC North Division race, as they host the Cleveland Browns, who have only had two winning seasons since their return to the NFL 13 years ago. The week ends with a rematch of last season's NFC West Division Title game of Week 17 as the Rams visit the Seattle Seahawks.
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Cleveland Browns (4-8] at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
The Steelers have the top-ranked defense in the NFL, and on Sunday, they had their way with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tonight, they get the other Ohio team, and the Browns better get ready for a long night.
Pick: Pittsburgh 47, Cleveland 0
UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
Houston Texans (9-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
On paper, the Texans should have this. On paper, the Bengals look like they are in for another long Sunday. But, wait. The temperature on Sunday should be about 40 degrees (at best), and the game is in Cincinnati (the ninth blacked out home game out of the last ten for Cincy), and warm weather teams don't usually do well in cold weather climates (San Diego lost at Paul Brown Stadium last year), and the Texans are without Andre Johnson once again, and are down to third-stringer T.J. Yates at quarterback. How's that paper holding up? It's true that Arian Foster is a beast at running back, and their defense is solid, but that's why they play the game. Oh, yeah, isn't Andy Dalton from Houston? But, the Bengals will top the Texans in an upset special (despite the fact the Bengals are a three-point favorite, after a 28-point shellacking by Ben Roethlisberger, c'mon folks)
Pick: Cincinnati 23, Houston 17 (OT)
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK- SUNDAY NIGHT GAME:
New York Giants (6-6) at Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
This is a must-win game for both teams in a battle for the NFC East. Must-win. Only problem is who wants this more? The Cowboys, or the slumping Giants?
Pick: Dallas 31, NY Giants 24
St. Louis Rams (2-10) at Seattle Seahawks (5-7)
Pick: Seattle 26, St. Louis 6
PLAYOFF PICTURE:
- Green Bay (12-0) clinched a playoff berth and the NFC North Division
- San Francisco (10-2) clinched the NFC West Division
TONIGHT'S GAME:
Cleveland Browns (4-8] at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
The Steelers have the top-ranked defense in the NFL, and on Sunday, they had their way with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tonight, they get the other Ohio team, and the Browns better get ready for a long night.
Pick: Pittsburgh 47, Cleveland 0
UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
Houston Texans (9-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)
On paper, the Texans should have this. On paper, the Bengals look like they are in for another long Sunday. But, wait. The temperature on Sunday should be about 40 degrees (at best), and the game is in Cincinnati (the ninth blacked out home game out of the last ten for Cincy), and warm weather teams don't usually do well in cold weather climates (San Diego lost at Paul Brown Stadium last year), and the Texans are without Andre Johnson once again, and are down to third-stringer T.J. Yates at quarterback. How's that paper holding up? It's true that Arian Foster is a beast at running back, and their defense is solid, but that's why they play the game. Oh, yeah, isn't Andy Dalton from Houston? But, the Bengals will top the Texans in an upset special (despite the fact the Bengals are a three-point favorite, after a 28-point shellacking by Ben Roethlisberger, c'mon folks)
Pick: Cincinnati 23, Houston 17 (OT)
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK- SUNDAY NIGHT GAME:
New York Giants (6-6) at Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
This is a must-win game for both teams in a battle for the NFC East. Must-win. Only problem is who wants this more? The Cowboys, or the slumping Giants?
Pick: Dallas 31, NY Giants 24
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Atlanta Falcons (7-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-8]
Pick: Atlanta 41, Carolina 37
Indianapolis Colts (0-12) at Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
Colts owner Robert Irsay said in an interview that he did not expect to see Peyton Manning play "at all this season". Um, where have you been the last 14 weeks?
Pick: Baltimore 28, Indianapolis 18
Minnesota Vikings (2-10) at Detroit Lions (7-5)
Pick: Detroit 34, Minnesota 14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-8] at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9)
Pick: Tampa Bay 31, Jacksonville 13
Philadelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins (both 4-8]
Pick: Miami 28, Philadelphia 24
Kansas City Chiefs (5-7) at New York Jets (7-5)
Pick: NY Jets 34, Kansas City 7
New Orleans Saints (9-3) at Tennessee Titans (7-5)
Pick: New Orleans 42, Tennessee 21
New England Patriots (9-3) at Washington Redskins (4-8]
Pick: New England 33, Washington 6
Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos (both 7-5)
Pick: Denver 27, Chicago 9
San Francisco 49ers (10-2) at Arizona Cardinals (5-7)
Pick: San Francisco 23, Arizona 20
Oakland Raiders (7-5) at Green Bay Packers (12-0)
Pick: Green Bay 35, Oakland 3
Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers (both 5-7)
Pick: San Diego 38, Buffalo 17
The Army-Navy Game (at FedEx Field- Landover, MD):
Pick: Navy 35, Army 14
Heisman Trophy:
Prediction: Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor)
Look Out for: Tyrann Mathieu (DB, LSU)
St. Louis Rams (2-10) at Seattle Seahawks (5-7)
Pick: Seattle 26, St. Louis 6
PLAYOFF PICTURE:
- Green Bay (12-0) clinched a playoff berth and the NFC North Division
- San Francisco (10-2) clinched the NFC West Division
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
2011 High School Football: The End
After 15 weeks of Friday (and Saturday) night lights, the stadium lights have now gone dark for the winter. Six new State Champions were crowned last Friday and Saturday in Massillon and Canton (none are from Central Ohio).
Best Local Team of the Year: Pickerington Central
2010: (Tie) Bishop Hartley and Bishop Watterson (the Hawks host the Eagles in Week 6 next season)
Most Disappointing Team of the Year: (Tie) Westerville North and Bishop Watterson
2010: Westerville North
Most Improved Team of the Year: Reynoldsburg
2010: Mifflin
Breakout Team of the Year: Westerville Central
2010: Northland
Upset of the Year: Pickerington North over Watterson (Week 1)
2010: Gahanna over Groveport (Week 10)
2011 State Champions:
Division I- Cleveland St. Ignatius
Division II- Trotwood-Madison
Division III- Youngstown Cardinal Mooney
Division IV- Creston Norwayne
Division V- Kirtland
Division VI- Maria Stein Marion Local
Best Local Team of the Year: Pickerington Central
2010: (Tie) Bishop Hartley and Bishop Watterson (the Hawks host the Eagles in Week 6 next season)
Most Disappointing Team of the Year: (Tie) Westerville North and Bishop Watterson
2010: Westerville North
Most Improved Team of the Year: Reynoldsburg
2010: Mifflin
Breakout Team of the Year: Westerville Central
2010: Northland
Upset of the Year: Pickerington North over Watterson (Week 1)
2010: Gahanna over Groveport (Week 10)
2011 State Champions:
Division I- Cleveland St. Ignatius
Division II- Trotwood-Madison
Division III- Youngstown Cardinal Mooney
Division IV- Creston Norwayne
Division V- Kirtland
Division VI- Maria Stein Marion Local
Thursday, December 1, 2011
NFL Week 13 Predictions & College Football Week 14 Picks
Tonight, Week 13 of the NFL kicks off in Seattle as the Seahawks host the Philadelphia Eagles, and ends on Monday, as the San Diego Chargers try to snap their six-game skid in Jacksonville, who will coach their first game under interim head coach Mel Tucker, who replaced nine-year coach Jack Del Rio, who was fired this week.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) at Seattle Seahawks (3-8]
Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin are both expected to be out for tonight's game, so this could be an upset special.
Pick: Seattle 20, Philadelphia 16
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers [8-3)
In an ESPN interview, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger praised the talent of young rookie Bengals QB Andy Dalton. With that said, look for the Steelers to win this one.
Pick: Pittsburgh 28, Cincinnati 7
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Indianapolis Colts (0-11) at New England Patriots [8-3)
This was the Sunday Night Game (until it got flexed out), but it will be a one-sided laugher.
Pick: New England 48, Indianapolis 3
Atlanta Falcons (7-4) at Houston Texans [8-3)
Houston, they've got a problem. The Texans are now on their third different quarterback this season after losing QB Matt Leinart for the season as well.
Pick: Atlanta 31, Houston 10
Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) at Chicago Bears (7-4)
Pick: Chicago 27, Kansas City 7
Tennessee Titans (6-5) at Buffalo Bills (5-6)
Pick: Tennessee 21, Buffalo 13
Oakland Raiders (7-4) at Miami Dolphins (3-8]
Pick: Oakland 24, Miami 21
Denver Broncos (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (2-9)
The Vikings cut Donovan McNabb on Thursday. Does that matter at this point?
Pick: Denver 30, Minnesota 6
Carolina Panthers (3-8] at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
Pick: Carolina 35, Tampa Bay 21
New York Jets (6-5) at Washington Redskins (4-7)
Pick: NY Jets 35, Washington 7
Baltimore Ravens [8-3) at Cleveland Browns (4-7)
Pick: Baltimore 34, Cleveland 14
Dallas Cowboys (7-4) at Arizona Cardinals (4-7)
Pick: Dallas 37, Arizona 13
St. Louis Rams (2-9) at San Francisco 49ers (9-2)
Pick: San Francisco 28, St. Louis 10
Green Bay Packers (11-0) at New York Giants (6-5)
Pick: Green Bay 24, NY Giants 20
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Detroit Lions (7-4) at New Orleans Saints [8-3)
Pick: New Orleans 38, Detroit 7
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
San Diego Chargers (4-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8]
A busy week in Jacksonville. The team was bought, and coach Jack Del Rio was pinkslipped. The Chargers come to town, losers of six straight.
Pick: San Diego 16, Jacksonville 13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS:
(Pac-12 Championship): UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks (at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR)- Oregon 56, UCLA 7
(Big 10 Championship): Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan State Spartans (at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)- Wisconsin 38, Michigan State 35
(SEC Championship): # 14 Georgia Bulldogs vs. # 1 LSU Tigers (at Georgia Dome, Atlanta)- LSU 42, Georgia 17
(ACC Championship): # 5 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. # 21 Clemson Tigers- Virginia Tech 34, Clemson 21
(Conference USA Championship): # 24 Southern Mississippi Eagles vs. # 7 Houston Cougars- Houston 49, Southern Miss 24
Texas Longhorns at # 19 Baylor Bears- Baylor 31, Texas 28
# 13 Oklahoma Sooners at # 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys- Oklahoma 37, Oklahoma State 27
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Philadelphia Eagles (4-7) at Seattle Seahawks (3-8]
Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin are both expected to be out for tonight's game, so this could be an upset special.
Pick: Seattle 20, Philadelphia 16
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers [8-3)
In an ESPN interview, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger praised the talent of young rookie Bengals QB Andy Dalton. With that said, look for the Steelers to win this one.
Pick: Pittsburgh 28, Cincinnati 7
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Indianapolis Colts (0-11) at New England Patriots [8-3)
This was the Sunday Night Game (until it got flexed out), but it will be a one-sided laugher.
Pick: New England 48, Indianapolis 3
Atlanta Falcons (7-4) at Houston Texans [8-3)
Houston, they've got a problem. The Texans are now on their third different quarterback this season after losing QB Matt Leinart for the season as well.
Pick: Atlanta 31, Houston 10
Kansas City Chiefs (4-7) at Chicago Bears (7-4)
Pick: Chicago 27, Kansas City 7
Tennessee Titans (6-5) at Buffalo Bills (5-6)
Pick: Tennessee 21, Buffalo 13
Oakland Raiders (7-4) at Miami Dolphins (3-8]
Pick: Oakland 24, Miami 21
Denver Broncos (6-5) at Minnesota Vikings (2-9)
The Vikings cut Donovan McNabb on Thursday. Does that matter at this point?
Pick: Denver 30, Minnesota 6
Carolina Panthers (3-8] at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
Pick: Carolina 35, Tampa Bay 21
New York Jets (6-5) at Washington Redskins (4-7)
Pick: NY Jets 35, Washington 7
Baltimore Ravens [8-3) at Cleveland Browns (4-7)
Pick: Baltimore 34, Cleveland 14
Dallas Cowboys (7-4) at Arizona Cardinals (4-7)
Pick: Dallas 37, Arizona 13
St. Louis Rams (2-9) at San Francisco 49ers (9-2)
Pick: San Francisco 28, St. Louis 10
Green Bay Packers (11-0) at New York Giants (6-5)
Pick: Green Bay 24, NY Giants 20
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Detroit Lions (7-4) at New Orleans Saints [8-3)
Pick: New Orleans 38, Detroit 7
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
San Diego Chargers (4-7) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8]
A busy week in Jacksonville. The team was bought, and coach Jack Del Rio was pinkslipped. The Chargers come to town, losers of six straight.
Pick: San Diego 16, Jacksonville 13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS:
(Pac-12 Championship): UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks (at Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR)- Oregon 56, UCLA 7
(Big 10 Championship): Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan State Spartans (at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)- Wisconsin 38, Michigan State 35
(SEC Championship): # 14 Georgia Bulldogs vs. # 1 LSU Tigers (at Georgia Dome, Atlanta)- LSU 42, Georgia 17
(ACC Championship): # 5 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. # 21 Clemson Tigers- Virginia Tech 34, Clemson 21
(Conference USA Championship): # 24 Southern Mississippi Eagles vs. # 7 Houston Cougars- Houston 49, Southern Miss 24
Texas Longhorns at # 19 Baylor Bears- Baylor 31, Texas 28
# 13 Oklahoma Sooners at # 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys- Oklahoma 37, Oklahoma State 27
Friday, November 25, 2011
Twas the Night Before The Game
Twas the Night Before THE Game, and all through the house
All of the creatures were stirring, including a mouse
Why start with this poem? It seems like the Ohio State Buckeyes have had distraction after distraction in the last twelve months. This time a year ago, it seemed like the Buckeyes were invincible after a convincing 37-7 romp over Michigan at Ohio Stadium, a record seventh consecutive win (which the Bucks later vacated of course, along with their 12 other games), one that spelled doom for then-Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, and guaranteed that then-Buckeye Head Coach Jim Tressel would coach the Buckeyes either for life, or until he got sick and tired of it.
Then a few weeks later, the rug came from underneath the Buckeye football program as reports of high-profile Buckeye football players selling gold pants, jerseys, and other memorabilia in exchange for things such as cars, cash, and tattoos. Five Ohio State football players (Terrelle Pryor, Daniel "Boom" Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas) were suspended for five games, along with Tressel subsequently.
Think that this was the end of it? Hardly. Apparently, Terrelle Pryor's mentor, a man by the name of Ted Sarniak e-mailed the Tressel camp, and then Tressel got word that the aforementioned players were selling aforementioned items in exchange for aforementioned tattoos and cash. Tressel's reputation as an upstanding pillar in the NCAA community was tarnished, and as the spring progressed, it seemed that Tressel was not long for the Buckeyes. On May 30, Tressel was forced to resign, and Luke Fickell became the interim head coach for the season (more on Fickell later). Eight days later, it was announced that Pryor would not return for his senior season.
Still with us? Posey's suspension was doubled, and Pryor was taken in the supplemental draft by the Oakland Raiders, only to have to serve the five game suspension, and then be expendable (by the acquisition for Carson Palmer- another song for another dance). Tressel took a consulting job for the Indianapolis Colts, where he served a six-game suspension. The Buckeyes vacated all of their wins from last season, and are still awaiting word on the NCAA, in terms of sanctions.
Meanwhile, news is heating up that ex-Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer will be announced as the new Head Coach at next Tuesday's OSU-Duke Men's Basketball Game. This is not what the current crop of Buckeyes need as they head up north to play their biggest rival right now, another distraction. When asked about the Meyer situation on Wednesday, Fickell responded, "All I know is that there is a game at Noon on Saturday, and my ass will be there."
On the other side of the ball, Michigan fired trainwreck Rich Rodriguez after a 15-22 mark at Michigan, and hired San Diego State coach and former Michigan assistant Brady Hoke, whom from Day One, has only referred to Ohio State as "OHIO", and implemented a whole new attitude and look.
This year, there was a countdown clock, counting down the days and minutes until kickoff for the Ohio State and Michigan State games, as well as a clock counting the number of days it has been since Michigan beat the aforementioned schools in football. Never in the 133 years of Wolverine football has a senior class gone 0-8 against the top two rivals (sorry Notre Dame, you don't count, ditto for Minnesota). Can these Michigan seniors knock off the Scarlet and Gray? The answer is...find out at about Noon tomorrow in the Big House.
Last week, Michigan put out a show against a really good Nebraska team, capitalizing on turnovers and special teams mistakes (which a couple of them were also turnovers) to put away the Cornhuskers 45-17. In Columbus, an emotional Penn State team held off the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Horseshoe, as DeVier Posey made his 2011 debut. The Buckeyes made some big plays, but not enough big plays (like against Wisconsin).
Tomorrow, expect the Buckeyes to make some big plays on offense, and a couple of big plays will keep them in the game for a while, but the Buckeyes did not finish last week against Penn State. This Ohio State team is better than their 6-5 record.
Michigan, an eight and a half point favorite, they will be ready. They are starving for a win against a Buckeye team in a recession. They are wanting to end the Tressel-era of domination. They are wanting to usher in the Brady Hoke era with a "W" over their hated rivals.
1929 was the last time that both Ohio State and Michigan entered "THE Game" with first-year head coached. The Buckeyes won that game. Hoke is Michigan's own Woody Hayes. Hoke only likes to refer to the Buckeyes as "OHIO", and the hungry Michigan players are looking to feast on the Buckeyes tomorrow in the Big House. Look for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson to be let loose on the field, like Desmond Howard, Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka, Charles Woodson, and Chris Perry before him against the Buckeyes. Look for Robinson to have a BIG day, as the Michigan receivers will try to outsmart the strong Buckeye defense.
The outcome will be closer than you think. Michigan has only beaten Ohio State by more than 20 points only twice in the last 30 years (1991- 31-3 and 1993- 28-0, both in the Big House). The Buckeyes will show up, but not when the going gets tough, and the Maize and Blue tough get going.
Prediction: Michigan 38, Ohio State 34
All of the creatures were stirring, including a mouse
Why start with this poem? It seems like the Ohio State Buckeyes have had distraction after distraction in the last twelve months. This time a year ago, it seemed like the Buckeyes were invincible after a convincing 37-7 romp over Michigan at Ohio Stadium, a record seventh consecutive win (which the Bucks later vacated of course, along with their 12 other games), one that spelled doom for then-Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez, and guaranteed that then-Buckeye Head Coach Jim Tressel would coach the Buckeyes either for life, or until he got sick and tired of it.
Then a few weeks later, the rug came from underneath the Buckeye football program as reports of high-profile Buckeye football players selling gold pants, jerseys, and other memorabilia in exchange for things such as cars, cash, and tattoos. Five Ohio State football players (Terrelle Pryor, Daniel "Boom" Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas) were suspended for five games, along with Tressel subsequently.
Think that this was the end of it? Hardly. Apparently, Terrelle Pryor's mentor, a man by the name of Ted Sarniak e-mailed the Tressel camp, and then Tressel got word that the aforementioned players were selling aforementioned items in exchange for aforementioned tattoos and cash. Tressel's reputation as an upstanding pillar in the NCAA community was tarnished, and as the spring progressed, it seemed that Tressel was not long for the Buckeyes. On May 30, Tressel was forced to resign, and Luke Fickell became the interim head coach for the season (more on Fickell later). Eight days later, it was announced that Pryor would not return for his senior season.
Still with us? Posey's suspension was doubled, and Pryor was taken in the supplemental draft by the Oakland Raiders, only to have to serve the five game suspension, and then be expendable (by the acquisition for Carson Palmer- another song for another dance). Tressel took a consulting job for the Indianapolis Colts, where he served a six-game suspension. The Buckeyes vacated all of their wins from last season, and are still awaiting word on the NCAA, in terms of sanctions.
Meanwhile, news is heating up that ex-Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer will be announced as the new Head Coach at next Tuesday's OSU-Duke Men's Basketball Game. This is not what the current crop of Buckeyes need as they head up north to play their biggest rival right now, another distraction. When asked about the Meyer situation on Wednesday, Fickell responded, "All I know is that there is a game at Noon on Saturday, and my ass will be there."
On the other side of the ball, Michigan fired trainwreck Rich Rodriguez after a 15-22 mark at Michigan, and hired San Diego State coach and former Michigan assistant Brady Hoke, whom from Day One, has only referred to Ohio State as "OHIO", and implemented a whole new attitude and look.
This year, there was a countdown clock, counting down the days and minutes until kickoff for the Ohio State and Michigan State games, as well as a clock counting the number of days it has been since Michigan beat the aforementioned schools in football. Never in the 133 years of Wolverine football has a senior class gone 0-8 against the top two rivals (sorry Notre Dame, you don't count, ditto for Minnesota). Can these Michigan seniors knock off the Scarlet and Gray? The answer is...find out at about Noon tomorrow in the Big House.
Last week, Michigan put out a show against a really good Nebraska team, capitalizing on turnovers and special teams mistakes (which a couple of them were also turnovers) to put away the Cornhuskers 45-17. In Columbus, an emotional Penn State team held off the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Horseshoe, as DeVier Posey made his 2011 debut. The Buckeyes made some big plays, but not enough big plays (like against Wisconsin).
Tomorrow, expect the Buckeyes to make some big plays on offense, and a couple of big plays will keep them in the game for a while, but the Buckeyes did not finish last week against Penn State. This Ohio State team is better than their 6-5 record.
Michigan, an eight and a half point favorite, they will be ready. They are starving for a win against a Buckeye team in a recession. They are wanting to end the Tressel-era of domination. They are wanting to usher in the Brady Hoke era with a "W" over their hated rivals.
1929 was the last time that both Ohio State and Michigan entered "THE Game" with first-year head coached. The Buckeyes won that game. Hoke is Michigan's own Woody Hayes. Hoke only likes to refer to the Buckeyes as "OHIO", and the hungry Michigan players are looking to feast on the Buckeyes tomorrow in the Big House. Look for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson to be let loose on the field, like Desmond Howard, Tshimanga "Tim" Biakabutuka, Charles Woodson, and Chris Perry before him against the Buckeyes. Look for Robinson to have a BIG day, as the Michigan receivers will try to outsmart the strong Buckeye defense.
The outcome will be closer than you think. Michigan has only beaten Ohio State by more than 20 points only twice in the last 30 years (1991- 31-3 and 1993- 28-0, both in the Big House). The Buckeyes will show up, but not when the going gets tough, and the Maize and Blue tough get going.
Prediction: Michigan 38, Ohio State 34
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
College Football 2011: Week 13
Stakes are high this weekend in the Pac-12, Big Ten, and SEC, as big games will help shape up the BCS landscape in Palo Alto, Eugene, Ann Arbor, Madison, Baton Rouge, and Auburn among cities.
THANKSGIVING NIGHT GAME:
Texas Longhorns (6-4, 3-4) at Texas A&M Aggies (6-5, 4-4)
Tomorrow night in College Station, Texas is one of the biggest rivalries in all of college sports as the Aggies of Texas A&M (6-5, 4-4) play the Texas Longhorns (6-4, 3-4) in what is the final scheduled game between these two schools, one of the longest rivals in college football history, having played 117 times since 1894. The Aggies move to the Southeastern Conference next year, thus ending one of the historic rivalries in all of college football.
Pick: Texas 17, Texas A&M 13
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-5, 3-4) at # 17 Michigan Wolverines (9-2, 5-2)
Pick: In the "Ohio"-Michigan Post
BIGGER GAME OF THE WEEK:
# 3 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1) at # 1 LSU Tigers (11-0, 7-0)
For the first time in 40 years, and only the second time in NCAA FBS history, an athletic conference has the top three teams in the country, and the # 1 and # 3 teams square off in Baton Rouge. Nothing can stop the Tigers, not even Alabama, and it is possible that LSU and Alabama meet again in the National Championship. Until then, the winner of this game will play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta next weekend.
Pick: LSU 27, Arkansas 7
BIG RIVALRY GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
Iowa Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3) at # 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers [8-3, 4-3)
Pick: Nebraska 31, Iowa 13
Boston College Golden Eagles (3-8, 2-5) at Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4)
Last week, Miami announced that it was not going to a Bowl game (given the Nevin Shapiro scandal), so this is the Hurricanes' bowl game. Ditto for BC, whom 27 years ago this weekend shocked the Canes with a "Hail Mary" from a quarterback named Douglas Richard Flutie- Doug for short, who would have a long, successful career in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League.
Pick: Miami 24, BC 7
# 13 Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) at # 25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets [8-3)
Pick: Georgia 27, Georgia Tech 20
Florida State Seminoles (7-4) at Florida Gators (6-5)
Pick: Florida State 31, Florida 20
# 18 Clemson Tigers at # 14 South Carolina Gamecocks (both 9-2)
Pick: Clemson 21, South Carolina 14
Washington State Cougars (4-7) at Washington Huskies (6-5)
Pick: Washington 28, Wazzu 17
# 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish [8-3) at # 4 Stanford Cardinal (10-1)
Pick: Stanford 41, Notre Dame 14
UCLA Bruins (6-5) at USC Trojans (9-2)This is USC's Bowl Game for the second straight year, due to their two-year bowl ban. This could also be the final game for Matt Barkley at quarterback for the Trojans as well.
Pick: USC 35, UCLA 10
# 6 Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1, 6-1) at # 24 Virginia Cavaliers [8-3, 5-2)
Pick: Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 24
Purdue Boilermakers (5-6, 3-4) at Indiana Hoosiers (1-10, 0-7)
Why am I picking this game? Because, Purdue upset both Illinois and Ohio State, that's why.
Pick: Purdue 37, Indiana 27
(38th Annual State Farm Bayou Classic)- Grambling Tigers (6-4, 5-3) vs. Southern Jaguars (4-6, 4-4)- at the Superdome
Pick: Grambling 30, Southern 21
and
(The Civil War)- Oregon State Beavers (3-8, 3-5) at # 9 Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1)
Pick: Oregon 55, Oregon State 6
OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
# 20 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-1) at # 15 Wisconsin Badgers (9-2, 5-2)
This is probably the most important game of this weekend (not OSU-Michigan, LSU-Arkansas, or the Iron Bowl), because this is the first-ever Big Ten Leaders Championship game, as the winner of this game will play Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium next weekend.
Pick: Wisconsin 42, Penn State 14
Vanderbilt Commodores (5-6) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-5)
This is Vanderbilt's bowl game, because the Commodores need a win to be bowl eligible. Only problem is they are 0-4 outside of Nashville this year.
Pick: Wake 35, Vandy 13
Iowa State Cyclones (6-4, 3-4) at # 12 Oklahoma Sooners [8-2, 5-2)
Last week, the Cyclones knocked off the then-# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys in a thriller, and this week, the Cyclones travel to Norman to face an Oklahoma team that was upset by Baylor.
Pick: Oklahoma 41, Iowa State 13
# 11 Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1) at Northwestern Wildcats (6-5, 3-4)
Pick: Michigan State 52, Northwestern 14
Pitt Panthers (5-5, 3-2) at Syracuse Orangemen (7-3, 3-2)
Pick: Syracuse 31, Pitt 24
Colorado Buffaloes (2-10, 1-7) at Utah Utes (7-4, 4-4)
Pick: Utah 48, Colorado 6
# 8 Houston Cougars (11-0, 7-0) at Tulsa Golden Hurricane [8-3, 7-0)
Pick: Houston 65, Tulsa 21
Wyoming Cowboys (7-3, 4-1) at # 9 Boise State Broncos (9-1, 4-1)
Pick: Boise State 49, Wyoming 7
CENTRAL OHIO HIGH SCHOOL STATE SEMI-FINALS:
Division I- Pickerington Central Tigers (10-2) vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier Blue Bombers (11-2)- at University of Dayton Welcome Stadium
Division II- Columbus Marion-Franklin Red Devils vs. Trotwood-Madison Rams (both 13-0)- at Clayton Northmont H.S.
Division IV- Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (13-0) vs. Creston Norwayne Bobcats (12-1)- at New Philadelphia H.S.
Picks: St. X, Trotwood-Madison, and Norwayne
THANKSGIVING NIGHT GAME:
Texas Longhorns (6-4, 3-4) at Texas A&M Aggies (6-5, 4-4)
Tomorrow night in College Station, Texas is one of the biggest rivalries in all of college sports as the Aggies of Texas A&M (6-5, 4-4) play the Texas Longhorns (6-4, 3-4) in what is the final scheduled game between these two schools, one of the longest rivals in college football history, having played 117 times since 1894. The Aggies move to the Southeastern Conference next year, thus ending one of the historic rivalries in all of college football.
Pick: Texas 17, Texas A&M 13
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-5, 3-4) at # 17 Michigan Wolverines (9-2, 5-2)
Pick: In the "Ohio"-Michigan Post
BIGGER GAME OF THE WEEK:
# 3 Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1) at # 1 LSU Tigers (11-0, 7-0)
For the first time in 40 years, and only the second time in NCAA FBS history, an athletic conference has the top three teams in the country, and the # 1 and # 3 teams square off in Baton Rouge. Nothing can stop the Tigers, not even Alabama, and it is possible that LSU and Alabama meet again in the National Championship. Until then, the winner of this game will play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta next weekend.
Pick: LSU 27, Arkansas 7
BIG RIVALRY GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
Iowa Hawkeyes (7-4, 4-3) at # 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers [8-3, 4-3)
Pick: Nebraska 31, Iowa 13
Boston College Golden Eagles (3-8, 2-5) at Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4)
Last week, Miami announced that it was not going to a Bowl game (given the Nevin Shapiro scandal), so this is the Hurricanes' bowl game. Ditto for BC, whom 27 years ago this weekend shocked the Canes with a "Hail Mary" from a quarterback named Douglas Richard Flutie- Doug for short, who would have a long, successful career in both the Canadian Football League and the National Football League.
Pick: Miami 24, BC 7
# 13 Georgia Bulldogs (9-2) at # 25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets [8-3)
Pick: Georgia 27, Georgia Tech 20
Florida State Seminoles (7-4) at Florida Gators (6-5)
Pick: Florida State 31, Florida 20
# 18 Clemson Tigers at # 14 South Carolina Gamecocks (both 9-2)
Pick: Clemson 21, South Carolina 14
Washington State Cougars (4-7) at Washington Huskies (6-5)
Pick: Washington 28, Wazzu 17
# 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish [8-3) at # 4 Stanford Cardinal (10-1)
Pick: Stanford 41, Notre Dame 14
UCLA Bruins (6-5) at USC Trojans (9-2)This is USC's Bowl Game for the second straight year, due to their two-year bowl ban. This could also be the final game for Matt Barkley at quarterback for the Trojans as well.
Pick: USC 35, UCLA 10
# 6 Virginia Tech Hokies (10-1, 6-1) at # 24 Virginia Cavaliers [8-3, 5-2)
Pick: Virginia Tech 38, Virginia 24
Purdue Boilermakers (5-6, 3-4) at Indiana Hoosiers (1-10, 0-7)
Why am I picking this game? Because, Purdue upset both Illinois and Ohio State, that's why.
Pick: Purdue 37, Indiana 27
(38th Annual State Farm Bayou Classic)- Grambling Tigers (6-4, 5-3) vs. Southern Jaguars (4-6, 4-4)- at the Superdome
Pick: Grambling 30, Southern 21
and
(The Civil War)- Oregon State Beavers (3-8, 3-5) at # 9 Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1)
Pick: Oregon 55, Oregon State 6
OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
# 20 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2, 6-1) at # 15 Wisconsin Badgers (9-2, 5-2)
This is probably the most important game of this weekend (not OSU-Michigan, LSU-Arkansas, or the Iron Bowl), because this is the first-ever Big Ten Leaders Championship game, as the winner of this game will play Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium next weekend.
Pick: Wisconsin 42, Penn State 14
Vanderbilt Commodores (5-6) at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-5)
This is Vanderbilt's bowl game, because the Commodores need a win to be bowl eligible. Only problem is they are 0-4 outside of Nashville this year.
Pick: Wake 35, Vandy 13
Iowa State Cyclones (6-4, 3-4) at # 12 Oklahoma Sooners [8-2, 5-2)
Last week, the Cyclones knocked off the then-# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys in a thriller, and this week, the Cyclones travel to Norman to face an Oklahoma team that was upset by Baylor.
Pick: Oklahoma 41, Iowa State 13
# 11 Michigan State Spartans (9-2, 6-1) at Northwestern Wildcats (6-5, 3-4)
Pick: Michigan State 52, Northwestern 14
Pitt Panthers (5-5, 3-2) at Syracuse Orangemen (7-3, 3-2)
Pick: Syracuse 31, Pitt 24
Colorado Buffaloes (2-10, 1-7) at Utah Utes (7-4, 4-4)
Pick: Utah 48, Colorado 6
# 8 Houston Cougars (11-0, 7-0) at Tulsa Golden Hurricane [8-3, 7-0)
Pick: Houston 65, Tulsa 21
Wyoming Cowboys (7-3, 4-1) at # 9 Boise State Broncos (9-1, 4-1)
Pick: Boise State 49, Wyoming 7
CENTRAL OHIO HIGH SCHOOL STATE SEMI-FINALS:
Division I- Pickerington Central Tigers (10-2) vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier Blue Bombers (11-2)- at University of Dayton Welcome Stadium
Division II- Columbus Marion-Franklin Red Devils vs. Trotwood-Madison Rams (both 13-0)- at Clayton Northmont H.S.
Division IV- Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (13-0) vs. Creston Norwayne Bobcats (12-1)- at New Philadelphia H.S.
Picks: St. X, Trotwood-Madison, and Norwayne
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
NFL 2011- Thanksgiving Week 12 Picks
Gobble...gobble...gobble...Week 12 of the NFL season kicks off on Thanksgiving Day with not one, not two, but three games on Thursday. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day every year (with the exception of World War II) since 1934, and the Dallas Cowboys since 1966. The Lions are a surprising 7-3 as they host the undefeated defending Super Bowl champs Green Bay in the early game. The Cowboys, at 6-4 are tied for first place in the NFC East with the New York Giants, and the Cowboys host the Miami Dolphins, winners of three straight after an 0-7 start, in the late afternoon/early evening game. The Thanksgiving Night game is an NFL first, as the first-ever game featuring two brothers as Head Coaches (Jim and John Harbaugh- or Harbaugh Bowl I) takes place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, as the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers, winners of eight straight visit the Baltimore Ravens, tied for first in the AFC North at 7-3.
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
HARBAUGH BOWL I
San Francisco 49ers (9-1) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
The Ravens put on a show against the Bengals, as the Ravens made big plays to stay afloat in the AFC North division. The 49ers, at 9-1, have all-but won the NFC West, as they are six games ahead of anyone else in the NFC West, and if the 49ers win, they could be the first team to clinch a playoff spot as early as Sunday.
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Francisco 17
THANKSGIVING DAY CLASSICS:
Green Bay Packers (10-0) at Detroit Lions (7-3)
and
Miami Dolphins (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
**Do I need to repeat myself?**
Can anybody stop the Green Bay Packers? Can anybody beat the Green Bay Packers? The Detroit Lions would love to answer that question. The Lions, after a slow start, overcame Carolina with big play after big play on Sunday, and are looking to give the defending Super Bowl Champs their first loss of the 2011 season.
In the later game, the Dolphins, winners of three straight, head into Big D to play America's Team, and the Cowboys find themselves tied for first in the NFC East, after a sluggish start, due to big wins and the Giants Sunday night loss to the Eagles. This game is probably a mismatch, because Miami's wins were against Kansas City, Washington, and Buffalo.
Picks: Green Bay (45-7) and Dallas (35-10)
SUNDAY GAMES:
Cleveland Browns (4-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)
Can I say "trap game"? No matter the records, these games tend to be close, but the Bengals cannot afford a close game, if they want to keep up with Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North, whilst the Browns still have to play the aforementioned Ravens and Steelers not once, but twice.
Pick: Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 17
Carolina Panthers (2-8] at Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
Can the Colts finally win one? Can the Panthers finally win one? Find out...
Pick: Carolina 17, Indianapolis 10
Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at St. Louis Rams (2-8]
The Rams would like to avenge an early overtime loss to the Cardinals.
Pick: St. Louis 21, Arizona 16
Houston Texans (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
Pick: Houston 34, Jacksonville 7
Buffalo Bills (5-5) at New York Jets (6-4)
Pick: NY Jets 35, Buffalo 0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-5)
Pick: Tampa Bay 20, Tennessee 17 (OT)
Minnesota Vikings (2-8] at Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Pick: Atlanta 33, Minnesota 13
Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (both 3-7)
Pick: Seattle 27, Washington 13
Chicago Bears (7-3) at Oakland Raiders (6-4)
Pick: Chicago 24, Oakland 21
New England Patriots (7-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
Pick: New England 42, Philadelphia 21
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (both 4-6)
Pick: San Diego 28, Denver 24
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
Pick: Pittsburgh 38, Kansas City 0
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
New York Giants (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (7-3)
Pick: New Orleans 31, NY Giants 20
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
HARBAUGH BOWL I
San Francisco 49ers (9-1) at Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
The Ravens put on a show against the Bengals, as the Ravens made big plays to stay afloat in the AFC North division. The 49ers, at 9-1, have all-but won the NFC West, as they are six games ahead of anyone else in the NFC West, and if the 49ers win, they could be the first team to clinch a playoff spot as early as Sunday.
Pick: Baltimore 24, San Francisco 17
THANKSGIVING DAY CLASSICS:
Green Bay Packers (10-0) at Detroit Lions (7-3)
and
Miami Dolphins (3-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-4)
**Do I need to repeat myself?**
Can anybody stop the Green Bay Packers? Can anybody beat the Green Bay Packers? The Detroit Lions would love to answer that question. The Lions, after a slow start, overcame Carolina with big play after big play on Sunday, and are looking to give the defending Super Bowl Champs their first loss of the 2011 season.
In the later game, the Dolphins, winners of three straight, head into Big D to play America's Team, and the Cowboys find themselves tied for first in the NFC East, after a sluggish start, due to big wins and the Giants Sunday night loss to the Eagles. This game is probably a mismatch, because Miami's wins were against Kansas City, Washington, and Buffalo.
Picks: Green Bay (45-7) and Dallas (35-10)
SUNDAY GAMES:
Cleveland Browns (4-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)
Can I say "trap game"? No matter the records, these games tend to be close, but the Bengals cannot afford a close game, if they want to keep up with Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the AFC North, whilst the Browns still have to play the aforementioned Ravens and Steelers not once, but twice.
Pick: Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 17
Carolina Panthers (2-8] at Indianapolis Colts (0-10)
Can the Colts finally win one? Can the Panthers finally win one? Find out...
Pick: Carolina 17, Indianapolis 10
Arizona Cardinals (3-7) at St. Louis Rams (2-8]
The Rams would like to avenge an early overtime loss to the Cardinals.
Pick: St. Louis 21, Arizona 16
Houston Texans (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
Pick: Houston 34, Jacksonville 7
Buffalo Bills (5-5) at New York Jets (6-4)
Pick: NY Jets 35, Buffalo 0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-5)
Pick: Tampa Bay 20, Tennessee 17 (OT)
Minnesota Vikings (2-8] at Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
Pick: Atlanta 33, Minnesota 13
Washington Redskins at Seattle Seahawks (both 3-7)
Pick: Seattle 27, Washington 13
Chicago Bears (7-3) at Oakland Raiders (6-4)
Pick: Chicago 24, Oakland 21
New England Patriots (7-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)
Pick: New England 42, Philadelphia 21
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (both 4-6)
Pick: San Diego 28, Denver 24
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
Pick: Pittsburgh 38, Kansas City 0
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:
New York Giants (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (7-3)
Pick: New Orleans 31, NY Giants 20
Friday, November 18, 2011
College Football: Week 12 of 2011
Where has this season gone? Next week is Thanksgiving, and there will be a lot of exciting rivalry matchups in New Orleans (Southern-Grambling), College Station (Texas-Texas A&M), Baton Rouge (Arkansas-LSU), Lincoln (Iowa-Nebraska), South Beach (BC-Miami), Atlanta (Georgia-Georgia Tech), Eugene (The Civil War- Oregon State-Oregon), Auburn (The Iron Bowl- Alabama-Auburn), Columbia (Clemson-South Carolina), Gainesville (Florida State-Florida), Palo Alto (Notre Dame-Stanford), Pasadena (UCLA-Southern Cal), and Ann Arbor (THE Game- Ohio State-Michigan). This week, there are a lot of big games in the Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC, Big 12, and of course, THE Game, in New Haven, Connecticut between Harvard and Yale.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY SCORES (I-FBS):
Ohio 29, Bowling Green 28
Western Michigan 24, Miami of Ohio 21
# 8 Virginia Tech 24, North Carolina 21
UAB 34, # 20 Southern Mississippi 31
Marshall 23, Memphis 22
RIVALRY GAME & BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Harvard Crimson (8-1, 6-0) at Yale Bulldogs (5-4, 4-2)
This is Harvard's playoff game, because it is against the Ivy League's "religion" to compete in the I-FCS football tournament.
Pick: Harvard 23, Yale 19
I-BCS RIVALRY GAME OF THE WEEK:
California Golden Bears (6-4, 3-4) at # 9 Stanford Cardinal (9-1, 7-1)
Pick: Stanford 48, Cal 18
BIG TOP 25 MATCHUP THIS WEEK:
# 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers at # 18 Michigan Wolverines (both 8-2, 4-2)
1962 was the last time that these two met in the regular season, but the Huskers topped Michigan in the 2005 Alamo Bowl 32-28. Michigan needs a win because they have another Red storm coming to the Big House next week.
Pick: Nebraska 31, Michigan 17
# 21 Penn State Nittany Lions [8-2, 5-1) at Ohio State Buckeyes (6-4, 3-3)- UPSET PICK
The Buckeyes sent out a Public Service Announcement this week that will be played during the game tomorrow telling their fans to show some respect to the Penn State fans, given the shaky situation in State College.
Pick: Ohio State 35, Penn State 10
# 17 Wisconsin Badgers [8-2, 4-2) at Illinois Fighting Illini (6-4, 2-4)
Pick: Wisconsin 56, Illinois 13
Indiana Hoosiers (1-9, 0-6) at # 15 Michigan State Spartans [8-2, 5-1)
Pick: Michigan State 52, Indiana 14
# 1 LSU Tigers (10-0, 6-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (2-8, 0-6)
Pick: LSU 49, Ole Miss 0
# 5 Oklahoma Sooners [8-1, 5-1) at # 22 Baylor Bears (6-3, 3-3)
Pick: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 12
USC Trojans [8-2, 4-2) at # 4 Oregon Ducks (9-1, 7-0)
Pick: Oregon 44, USC 21
# 10 Boise State Broncos [8-1, 3-1) at San Diego State Aztecs (6-3, 3-2)
Pick: Boise State 54, San Diego State 19
# 13 Kansas State Wildcats [8-2, 5-2) at # 23 Texas Longhorns (6-3, 3-3)
Pick: Texas 41, Kansas State 20
Kentucky Wildcats (4-6, 1-5) at # 14 Georgia Bulldogs [8-2, 6-1)
Pick: Georgia 41, Kentucky 6
Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-5, 1-5) at # 6 Arkansas Razorbacks (9-1, 5-1)
Pick: Arkansas 34, Mississippi State 7
Southern Methodist Mustangs (6-4, 4-2) at # 11 Houston Cougars (10-0, 6-0)
Pick: Houston 76, SMU 28
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
(Catholics vs. Jesuits)
Boston College Golden Eagles (3-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3)
I hate to see this rivalry go, don't you?
Pick: Notre Dame 41, BC 14
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
Vanderbilt Commodores (5-5, 2-5) at Tennessee Volunteers (4-6, 0-6)
Pick: Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 27
Arizona Wildcats (2-8, 1-7) at Arizona State Sun Devils (6-4, 4-3)
Pick: Arizona State 31, Arizona 3
Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-5, 2-5) at Missouri Tigers (5-5, 3-4)
Pick: Missouri 38, Texas Tech 24
Colorado State Rams (3-6, 1-3) at # 19 TCU Horned Frogs [8-2, 5-0)
Pick: TCU 47, Colorado State 0
Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3) at Purdue Boilermakers (5-5, 3-3)
Pick: Iowa 30, Purdue 20
Miami Hurricanes (5-5) at South Florida Bulls (5-4)
Pick: Miami 27, South Florida 21
Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 3-1) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-3, 3-2)
The Cats lost on a blocked field goal try last week at Paul Brown Stadium. They travel to Piscataway to play Rutgers in a tight Big East matchup.
Pick: Rutgers 31, Cincinnati 24
and TONIGHT:
# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-0, 7-0) at Iowa State Cyclones (5-4, 2-4)
Pick: OSU 63, Iowa State 3
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY SCORES (I-FBS):
Ohio 29, Bowling Green 28
Western Michigan 24, Miami of Ohio 21
# 8 Virginia Tech 24, North Carolina 21
UAB 34, # 20 Southern Mississippi 31
Marshall 23, Memphis 22
RIVALRY GAME & BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
Harvard Crimson (8-1, 6-0) at Yale Bulldogs (5-4, 4-2)
This is Harvard's playoff game, because it is against the Ivy League's "religion" to compete in the I-FCS football tournament.
Pick: Harvard 23, Yale 19
I-BCS RIVALRY GAME OF THE WEEK:
California Golden Bears (6-4, 3-4) at # 9 Stanford Cardinal (9-1, 7-1)
Pick: Stanford 48, Cal 18
BIG TOP 25 MATCHUP THIS WEEK:
# 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers at # 18 Michigan Wolverines (both 8-2, 4-2)
1962 was the last time that these two met in the regular season, but the Huskers topped Michigan in the 2005 Alamo Bowl 32-28. Michigan needs a win because they have another Red storm coming to the Big House next week.
Pick: Nebraska 31, Michigan 17
# 21 Penn State Nittany Lions [8-2, 5-1) at Ohio State Buckeyes (6-4, 3-3)- UPSET PICK
The Buckeyes sent out a Public Service Announcement this week that will be played during the game tomorrow telling their fans to show some respect to the Penn State fans, given the shaky situation in State College.
Pick: Ohio State 35, Penn State 10
# 17 Wisconsin Badgers [8-2, 4-2) at Illinois Fighting Illini (6-4, 2-4)
Pick: Wisconsin 56, Illinois 13
Indiana Hoosiers (1-9, 0-6) at # 15 Michigan State Spartans [8-2, 5-1)
Pick: Michigan State 52, Indiana 14
# 1 LSU Tigers (10-0, 6-0) at Ole Miss Rebels (2-8, 0-6)
Pick: LSU 49, Ole Miss 0
# 5 Oklahoma Sooners [8-1, 5-1) at # 22 Baylor Bears (6-3, 3-3)
Pick: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 12
USC Trojans [8-2, 4-2) at # 4 Oregon Ducks (9-1, 7-0)
Pick: Oregon 44, USC 21
# 10 Boise State Broncos [8-1, 3-1) at San Diego State Aztecs (6-3, 3-2)
Pick: Boise State 54, San Diego State 19
# 13 Kansas State Wildcats [8-2, 5-2) at # 23 Texas Longhorns (6-3, 3-3)
Pick: Texas 41, Kansas State 20
Kentucky Wildcats (4-6, 1-5) at # 14 Georgia Bulldogs [8-2, 6-1)
Pick: Georgia 41, Kentucky 6
Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-5, 1-5) at # 6 Arkansas Razorbacks (9-1, 5-1)
Pick: Arkansas 34, Mississippi State 7
Southern Methodist Mustangs (6-4, 4-2) at # 11 Houston Cougars (10-0, 6-0)
Pick: Houston 76, SMU 28
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
(Catholics vs. Jesuits)
Boston College Golden Eagles (3-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3)
I hate to see this rivalry go, don't you?
Pick: Notre Dame 41, BC 14
OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
Vanderbilt Commodores (5-5, 2-5) at Tennessee Volunteers (4-6, 0-6)
Pick: Vanderbilt 28, Tennessee 27
Arizona Wildcats (2-8, 1-7) at Arizona State Sun Devils (6-4, 4-3)
Pick: Arizona State 31, Arizona 3
Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-5, 2-5) at Missouri Tigers (5-5, 3-4)
Pick: Missouri 38, Texas Tech 24
Colorado State Rams (3-6, 1-3) at # 19 TCU Horned Frogs [8-2, 5-0)
Pick: TCU 47, Colorado State 0
Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4, 3-3) at Purdue Boilermakers (5-5, 3-3)
Pick: Iowa 30, Purdue 20
Miami Hurricanes (5-5) at South Florida Bulls (5-4)
Pick: Miami 27, South Florida 21
Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2, 3-1) at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-3, 3-2)
The Cats lost on a blocked field goal try last week at Paul Brown Stadium. They travel to Piscataway to play Rutgers in a tight Big East matchup.
Pick: Rutgers 31, Cincinnati 24
and TONIGHT:
# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-0, 7-0) at Iowa State Cyclones (5-4, 2-4)
Pick: OSU 63, Iowa State 3
2011 Central Ohio High School Football: Week 13
Only eight Central Ohio teams remain (out of 48 statewide). Tonight and tomorrow night, these eight, plus the forty other schools will fight to be among the 24 teams that make it to the State Semi-Finals next weekend. Only two of last year's State Champions- Bishop Hartley (in Division IV) and Delphos St. John (in Division VI) remain.
BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
(Division I, Region 3)
# 2 Pickerington Central Tigers (9-2) vs. # 1 Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (11-0)- at Ohio Wesleyan University Selby Field
and
(Division IV, Region 14)
# 3 Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks (11-0) vs. # 1 Kenton Wildcats (12-0)- at Mansfield Senior Arlin Field
The Clash of the Titans. Tomorrow night in Delaware and in Mansfield, it won't get any better as three of Central Ohio's best teams in 2011 fight for the right to compete in the State Semi-Finals next weekend. At least one of those three (the winner of the Davidson-Pick Central game) will.
In Division IV, the Hawks have soared over the competition all season long. Last week, against Pemberville Eastwood, the Hawks ran out the final 7:27 of the game to set themselves up with a date with perhaps the best quarterback in Ohio- Maty Mauk and the Kenton Wildcats. Mauk's older brother Ben was Mr. Ohio Football in 2001 and 2002, when Kenton won State Titles in both years. The Hawks have won 18 straight games, dating back to last season's Championship run. Despite losing some key players, the Hawks did not miss a beat, capping off the school's first-ever undefeated regular season.
In Division I, this will be the fourth consecutive year that these two have met in the playoffs. Davidson bested Pick Central the last two years, to go on to State, having won the State Title again in 2009. Pickerington Central, was written off after an 0-2 start (they lost to Cincinnati catholic powerhouses Moeller and St. X, who will square off in the Region 4 final tomorrow night at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium), but has won nine straight. The two best teams in Division I in Central Ohio will meet again for a date, more than likely with the winner of the Moeller-St. X game. Pick Central is hoping to win tomorrow night for a rematch with the winner of that game.
Picks: Hilliard Davidson and Kenton
OTHER CENTRAL OHIO GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
(Division II, Region 7)
# 2 Dresden Tri-Valley Scotties (11-1) vs. # 1 Columbus Marion-Franklin Red Devils (12-0)- at Gahanna Lincoln H.S. Stadium
Pick: Tri-Valley
(Division III, Region 10)
# 5 Elida Bulldogs (9-3) vs. # 3 Columbus Eastmoor Academy Warriors (10-2)- at Wapakoneta H.S. Harmon Field
Pick: Elida
(Division III, Region 12)
# 3 Plain City Jonathan Alder Pioneers vs. # 1 Springfield Shawnee Braves (both 12-0)- at Hilliard Bradley H.S. Athletic Complex
Pick: Jonathan Alder
(Division IV, Region 15)
# 5 Coshocton Redskins (10-2) vs. # 2 Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (12-0)- at Zanesville H.S. Sulsberger Stadium
Pick: Coshocton
(Division IV, Region 16)
# 5 Dayton Chaminade-Julienne Eagles (9-3) vs. # 3 Clarksville Clinton-Massie Falcons (10-2)- at Mason H.S. Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium
Pick: C-J
(Division V, Region 20)
# 6 West Jefferson Roughriders (10-2) vs. # 5 Coldwater Cavaliers (9-3)- at Piqua H.S. Alexander Stadium
Pick: Coldwater
For more on the playoffs and this week's matchups, go to http://www.ohsaa.org.
BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
(Division I, Region 3)
# 2 Pickerington Central Tigers (9-2) vs. # 1 Hilliard Davidson Wildcats (11-0)- at Ohio Wesleyan University Selby Field
and
(Division IV, Region 14)
# 3 Columbus Bishop Hartley Hawks (11-0) vs. # 1 Kenton Wildcats (12-0)- at Mansfield Senior Arlin Field
The Clash of the Titans. Tomorrow night in Delaware and in Mansfield, it won't get any better as three of Central Ohio's best teams in 2011 fight for the right to compete in the State Semi-Finals next weekend. At least one of those three (the winner of the Davidson-Pick Central game) will.
In Division IV, the Hawks have soared over the competition all season long. Last week, against Pemberville Eastwood, the Hawks ran out the final 7:27 of the game to set themselves up with a date with perhaps the best quarterback in Ohio- Maty Mauk and the Kenton Wildcats. Mauk's older brother Ben was Mr. Ohio Football in 2001 and 2002, when Kenton won State Titles in both years. The Hawks have won 18 straight games, dating back to last season's Championship run. Despite losing some key players, the Hawks did not miss a beat, capping off the school's first-ever undefeated regular season.
In Division I, this will be the fourth consecutive year that these two have met in the playoffs. Davidson bested Pick Central the last two years, to go on to State, having won the State Title again in 2009. Pickerington Central, was written off after an 0-2 start (they lost to Cincinnati catholic powerhouses Moeller and St. X, who will square off in the Region 4 final tomorrow night at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium), but has won nine straight. The two best teams in Division I in Central Ohio will meet again for a date, more than likely with the winner of the Moeller-St. X game. Pick Central is hoping to win tomorrow night for a rematch with the winner of that game.
Picks: Hilliard Davidson and Kenton
OTHER CENTRAL OHIO GAMES THIS WEEKEND:
(Division II, Region 7)
# 2 Dresden Tri-Valley Scotties (11-1) vs. # 1 Columbus Marion-Franklin Red Devils (12-0)- at Gahanna Lincoln H.S. Stadium
Pick: Tri-Valley
(Division III, Region 10)
# 5 Elida Bulldogs (9-3) vs. # 3 Columbus Eastmoor Academy Warriors (10-2)- at Wapakoneta H.S. Harmon Field
Pick: Elida
(Division III, Region 12)
# 3 Plain City Jonathan Alder Pioneers vs. # 1 Springfield Shawnee Braves (both 12-0)- at Hilliard Bradley H.S. Athletic Complex
Pick: Jonathan Alder
(Division IV, Region 15)
# 5 Coshocton Redskins (10-2) vs. # 2 Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (12-0)- at Zanesville H.S. Sulsberger Stadium
Pick: Coshocton
(Division IV, Region 16)
# 5 Dayton Chaminade-Julienne Eagles (9-3) vs. # 3 Clarksville Clinton-Massie Falcons (10-2)- at Mason H.S. Dwire Field at Atrium Stadium
Pick: C-J
(Division V, Region 20)
# 6 West Jefferson Roughriders (10-2) vs. # 5 Coldwater Cavaliers (9-3)- at Piqua H.S. Alexander Stadium
Pick: Coldwater
For more on the playoffs and this week's matchups, go to http://www.ohsaa.org.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
NFL 2011: Week 11 Picks
Tonight, Week 11 of the NFL football season commences at Sports Authority Field at Mile High as the Broncos host the New York Jets. This is one of 14 games this weekend, capping off with Matt Cassel's return to Foxboro on Monday night as the Kansas City Chiefs visit the New England Patriots. The 4 teams that are off this week are a combined 21-19 (21-9 if you don't count the Peyton-less Colts), and three of them (New Orleans, Houston, and Pittsburgh) lead their divisions heading into the Thanksgiving weekend.
TONIGHT'S GAME:
New York Jets (5-4) at Denver Broncos (4-5)
Pick: Denver 31, NY Jets 14
BIG GAME THIS WEEKEND:
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (both 6-3, and tied for 2nd in AFC North)
This game is probably the most important game of the week, having big playoff implications, as well as chasing idle Pittsburgh in the AFC North.
Pick: Baltimore 35, Cincinnati 21
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (9-0)
Pick: Green Bay 42, Tampa Bay 3
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns (both 3-6)
Pick: Jacksonville 17, Cleveland 10
Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-7)
Pick: Oakland 24, Minnesota 14
Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at Washington Redskins (3-6)
Pick: Dallas 35, Washington 13
Buffalo Bills (5-4) at Miami Dolphins (2-7)
I remember when the Bills were 3-0 and as hot as they were in the 1990s. Since then, they've lost four of six, including last Sunday's shipwreck in Big D. Miami has reeled off back-to-back wins after an 0-7 start.
Pick: Miami 27, Buffalo 10
Carolina Panthers (2-7) at Detroit Lions (6-3)
The Lions need this win to get back on track before hosting the Green Bay Packers for their annual Thanksgiving date.
Pick: Detroit 31, Carolina 27
LATE SUNDAY GAMES:
Arizona Cardinals (2-7) at San Francisco 49ers [8-1)
Pick: San Francisco 34, Arizona 0
Seattle Seahawks (3-6) at St. Louis Rams (2-7)
Pick: Seattle 14, St. Louis 12
Tennessee Titans (5-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
Pick: Atlanta 31, Tennessee 17
San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Chicago Bears (5-4)
Pick: San Diego 38, Chicago 33
SUNDAY NIGHT GAME:
Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) at New York Giants (7-2)
Pick: NY Giants 31, Philadelphia 20
MONDAY NIGHT GAME:
Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) at New England Patriots (6-3)
These two know each other well. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel was the starter in 2008 after Tom Brady was lost to a knee injury at Arrowhead Stadium. Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel both used to work for the Patriots. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Pick: New England 38, Kansas City 10
TONIGHT'S GAME:
New York Jets (5-4) at Denver Broncos (4-5)
Pick: Denver 31, NY Jets 14
BIG GAME THIS WEEKEND:
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (both 6-3, and tied for 2nd in AFC North)
This game is probably the most important game of the week, having big playoff implications, as well as chasing idle Pittsburgh in the AFC North.
Pick: Baltimore 35, Cincinnati 21
SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAMES:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (9-0)
Pick: Green Bay 42, Tampa Bay 3
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns (both 3-6)
Pick: Jacksonville 17, Cleveland 10
Oakland Raiders (5-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-7)
Pick: Oakland 24, Minnesota 14
Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at Washington Redskins (3-6)
Pick: Dallas 35, Washington 13
Buffalo Bills (5-4) at Miami Dolphins (2-7)
I remember when the Bills were 3-0 and as hot as they were in the 1990s. Since then, they've lost four of six, including last Sunday's shipwreck in Big D. Miami has reeled off back-to-back wins after an 0-7 start.
Pick: Miami 27, Buffalo 10
Carolina Panthers (2-7) at Detroit Lions (6-3)
The Lions need this win to get back on track before hosting the Green Bay Packers for their annual Thanksgiving date.
Pick: Detroit 31, Carolina 27
LATE SUNDAY GAMES:
Arizona Cardinals (2-7) at San Francisco 49ers [8-1)
Pick: San Francisco 34, Arizona 0
Seattle Seahawks (3-6) at St. Louis Rams (2-7)
Pick: Seattle 14, St. Louis 12
Tennessee Titans (5-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
Pick: Atlanta 31, Tennessee 17
San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Chicago Bears (5-4)
Pick: San Diego 38, Chicago 33
SUNDAY NIGHT GAME:
Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) at New York Giants (7-2)
Pick: NY Giants 31, Philadelphia 20
MONDAY NIGHT GAME:
Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) at New England Patriots (6-3)
These two know each other well. Chiefs QB Matt Cassel was the starter in 2008 after Tom Brady was lost to a knee injury at Arrowhead Stadium. Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel both used to work for the Patriots. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Pick: New England 38, Kansas City 10
Friday, November 11, 2011
2011 College Football- Week 11 Picks
This past week, the whole college football nation grativated towards State College, PA and the firing of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno. In Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions are adjusting to life without their leader for the first time in decades.
UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
# 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2) at # 12 Penn State Nittany Lions [8-1, 5-0)
The last time that Joseph Vincent Paterno was not on the sidelines of Beaver Stadium was 1949. Harry S. Truman was President, there were 48 U.S. States, and All the Kings Men was the Best Picture of the year...oh yeah, television was in its infancy. But, tomorrow, the Tom Bradley era begins in what was once Happy Valley, but only a university campus rocked by a sexual abuse scandal. The last time that there was a home game at Beaver Stadium without Paterno as coach was December 1965. The long-time defensive coordinator for Penn State begins his run as the interim head coach as the Nittany Lions, fresh off a bye last week (when the scandal escalated), host the Cornhuskers. The Nittany Lions are very distracted by the events of the past week, and Nebraska, after getting upset by Northwestern, can take their frustration out on a very distracted Penn State team.
Pick: Nebraska 35, Penn State 0
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
# 7 Oregon Ducks at # 4 Stanford Cardinal (9-0, 6-0)
This will be the Pac-12 game of the year, and the winner will more than likely win the Pac-12 North Division and play in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Pick: Stanford 47, Oregon 34
OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
# 24 Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-2) at Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3, 2-3)
"That's basketball."- Michigan Head Football Coach Brady Hoke about last year's 67-65 triple overtime win over Illinois last year
Last year, the Wolverines won a wild one in triple overtime over Illinois, in what seemed like a basketball score. This year, both schools and their respective quarterbacks- Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois) need to have big games to help their teams stay afloat in their respective divisions.
The Wolverines need a win to stay afloat the Big Ten Legends Division, while the host Illini need a win to snap their three-game slide after their first 6-0 start in 60 years. Michigan needs to step off offensively against this Illinois team, a complete 180 from their loss last week at Iowa.
Pick: Michigan 27, Illinois 24
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3, 3-2) at Purdue Boilermakers (4-5, 2-3)
The last time the Bucks were in West Lafayette, Purdue upset the Bucks 26-18, so the Buckeyes are preparing not to be upset by the Boilermakers this go around, in what is a crucial game for OSU.
Pick: Ohio State 38, Purdue 17
Maryland Terrapins (2-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-3)- at FedEx Field
Pick: Notre Dame 31, Maryland 13
West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 2-2) at Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1, 3-0)- at Paul Brown Stadium
Pick: Cincinnati 31, West Virginia 27
# 18 Wisconsin Badgers [8-2, 3-2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-7)
The Gophers upset Iowa two weeks ago, and almost upset Michigan State last week. Tomorrow, Wisconsin will show them who's the cream of the Big Ten crop.
Pick: Wisconsin 48, Minnesota 10
# 20 Auburn Tigers at # 15 Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Georgia 27, Auburn 16
Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles
Pick: Florida State 34, Miami 7
Texas A&M Aggies at # 14 Kansas State Wildcats
Pick: Kansas State 26, Texas A&M 10
TCU Horned Frogs at # 5 Boise State Broncos
Pick: Boise State 42, TCU 9
# 25 Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks
Pick: Baylor 31, Kansas 0
# 17 Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 4-1) at Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-2)
Pick: Michigan State 30, Iowa 27 (OT)
# 16 Texas Longhorns at Missouri Tigers
Pick: Texas 51, Missouri 6
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at # 9 Clemson Tigers [8-1, 5-1)
Pick: Clemson 42, Wake 17
Florida Gators (5-4, 3-4) at # 13 South Carolina Gamecocks
Pick: South Carolina 27, Florida 10
# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0, 6-0) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4)
For the first time ever, OSU has a big bullseye on their back, watch out, here come the Cowboys.
Pick: OSU 41, Texas Tech 20
UPSET PICK OF THE WEEK:
# 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2) at # 12 Penn State Nittany Lions [8-1, 5-0)
The last time that Joseph Vincent Paterno was not on the sidelines of Beaver Stadium was 1949. Harry S. Truman was President, there were 48 U.S. States, and All the Kings Men was the Best Picture of the year...oh yeah, television was in its infancy. But, tomorrow, the Tom Bradley era begins in what was once Happy Valley, but only a university campus rocked by a sexual abuse scandal. The last time that there was a home game at Beaver Stadium without Paterno as coach was December 1965. The long-time defensive coordinator for Penn State begins his run as the interim head coach as the Nittany Lions, fresh off a bye last week (when the scandal escalated), host the Cornhuskers. The Nittany Lions are very distracted by the events of the past week, and Nebraska, after getting upset by Northwestern, can take their frustration out on a very distracted Penn State team.
Pick: Nebraska 35, Penn State 0
BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
# 7 Oregon Ducks at # 4 Stanford Cardinal (9-0, 6-0)
This will be the Pac-12 game of the year, and the winner will more than likely win the Pac-12 North Division and play in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Pick: Stanford 47, Oregon 34
OTHER BIG GAMES THIS WEEK:
# 24 Michigan Wolverines (7-2, 3-2) at Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3, 2-3)
"That's basketball."- Michigan Head Football Coach Brady Hoke about last year's 67-65 triple overtime win over Illinois last year
Last year, the Wolverines won a wild one in triple overtime over Illinois, in what seemed like a basketball score. This year, both schools and their respective quarterbacks- Denard Robinson (Michigan) and Nathan Scheelhaase (Illinois) need to have big games to help their teams stay afloat in their respective divisions.
The Wolverines need a win to stay afloat the Big Ten Legends Division, while the host Illini need a win to snap their three-game slide after their first 6-0 start in 60 years. Michigan needs to step off offensively against this Illinois team, a complete 180 from their loss last week at Iowa.
Pick: Michigan 27, Illinois 24
Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3, 3-2) at Purdue Boilermakers (4-5, 2-3)
The last time the Bucks were in West Lafayette, Purdue upset the Bucks 26-18, so the Buckeyes are preparing not to be upset by the Boilermakers this go around, in what is a crucial game for OSU.
Pick: Ohio State 38, Purdue 17
Maryland Terrapins (2-7) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-3)- at FedEx Field
Pick: Notre Dame 31, Maryland 13
West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3, 2-2) at Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1, 3-0)- at Paul Brown Stadium
Pick: Cincinnati 31, West Virginia 27
# 18 Wisconsin Badgers [8-2, 3-2) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-7)
The Gophers upset Iowa two weeks ago, and almost upset Michigan State last week. Tomorrow, Wisconsin will show them who's the cream of the Big Ten crop.
Pick: Wisconsin 48, Minnesota 10
# 20 Auburn Tigers at # 15 Georgia Bulldogs
Pick: Georgia 27, Auburn 16
Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles
Pick: Florida State 34, Miami 7
Texas A&M Aggies at # 14 Kansas State Wildcats
Pick: Kansas State 26, Texas A&M 10
TCU Horned Frogs at # 5 Boise State Broncos
Pick: Boise State 42, TCU 9
# 25 Baylor Bears at Kansas Jayhawks
Pick: Baylor 31, Kansas 0
# 17 Michigan State Spartans (7-2, 4-1) at Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3, 3-2)
Pick: Michigan State 30, Iowa 27 (OT)
# 16 Texas Longhorns at Missouri Tigers
Pick: Texas 51, Missouri 6
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at # 9 Clemson Tigers [8-1, 5-1)
Pick: Clemson 42, Wake 17
Florida Gators (5-4, 3-4) at # 13 South Carolina Gamecocks
Pick: South Carolina 27, Florida 10
# 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-0, 6-0) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-4, 2-4)
For the first time ever, OSU has a big bullseye on their back, watch out, here come the Cowboys.
Pick: OSU 41, Texas Tech 20
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